Exporters are happy with the new system of exporting agricultural products. They can directly take it to India by changing the driver in Phuentshogling. It means they don’t have to tranship to other vehicles. The first batch of nine truckloads of vegetables was exported on Wednesday.
Drivers from India come to Phuentshogling following COVID safety protocols. They then drive the trucks to India. The products are unloaded in Jaigoan and the trucks return immediately.
“Earlier we used to get stuck at the transhipment areas for a few days. The vegetables would rot. With this initiative of driver switching mode here, it is very convenient,” said Yeshi Wangchuk, Exporter.
Another exporter, Rinzin Thinley said “Exporting vegetables without having to tranship here seems to be a very effective measure. It will be convenient for the exporters. We have to pay transhipment charges here, which will ultimately affect our farmers.”
The transhipment areas have to handle both imports as well as exports. So, the task force came up with the initiative which is on trial.
Yonten Gyamtsho, the Chief Marketing Officer from the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives said “Some exporters are reluctant to send their vehicles across the border while others are happy with the initiative. They say there is a shortage of labourers here and even the transhipment charges are high. So, it is better to send the vehicles directly there. We have considered both the cases and planned accordingly.”
But exporters can still choose to tranship their products in Phuentshogling. Today, truckloads of cabbages, potatoes, carrots and apples are being exported.
Sonam Penjor, Chhukha
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
