With the closure of the border gates due to the pandemic, ginger growers in Dagana, Tsirang, Trongsa and Zhemgang had a difficult time marketing their ginger last year. However, starting March this year, Gelegphu FCB auction yard started exporting gingers to India, using the buyback scheme. And this has immensely benefitted the farmers.
The government initiated the buyback scheme considering the poor market situation for the product due to the pandemic.
“The pandemic really affected the ginger export. We are grateful to the government for the buy-back scheme,” said Tshering, one of the ginger growers.
“At a time when the pandemic has affected businesses, the buy-back scheme has really benefitted us,” added Patiman Gimrey.
“Had it not been for the buy-back scheme, we would have to throw our gingers. We are thankful,” said Shambu Subba.
FCB has graded gingers into three different sizes. Bigger sized gingers fetch Nu 45 per kilogram while medium and smaller gingers fetch Nu 35 and Nu 25 respectively.
The auction yard has exported around 300 MT of ginger to India so far.
Karma Wangdi, Gelegphu
