Friday, May 16, 2025
  • Contact Us
  • About BBS
  • Privacy & Policy
ENG
DZO
BBSCL Logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule
Radio Live
No Result
View All Result
BBSCL logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule
No Result
View All Result
BBSCL logo
Radio LIVE

Potato growers and traders struggling as price plummets in auction yard

July 12, 2023
in Agriculture, Business, Other Stories
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
0
SHARES
7
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

 

Farmers and traders in the eastern districts are not getting the expected price for their potatoes at the Food Corporation of Bhutan’s Samdrup Jongkhar auction yard these days. Despite spending days at the auction yard, some of them have not been able to fetch favourable prices.

When the potato auction started on the 15th of last month, potato growers initially fetched Nu 27 per kilogram. However, over time, prices declined in the yard.

As of today, potato growers are only able to fetch Nu 17 for a kilogram of small-sized potatoes and Nu 21 for large-sized potatoes.

This pricing has left growers and local traders dissatisfied. They said receiving Nu 20 per kilogram for large-sized potatoes will not be profitable.

Kinga Wangchuk, came all the way from Trashi Yangtse with around two truckloads of potatoes to sell at the auction yard. However, he has been able to sell only the small-sized potatoes. He still has over 150 sacks of large-sized potatoes unsold after failing to get his expected prices.

He had purchased the potatoes from villagers at Nu 20 and hoped to sell them at a better price.

“I brought around 25 metric tonnes of potatoes here but if I sell them at the current rate, I will incur a loss of about Nu 100,000. So, I haven’t sold them yet. I am hoping that the prices will increase in the coming days. If I can get Nu 22 to 23 per kilogram, it will at least cover the transportation charges. That’s why I am waiting.”

Meanwhile, some potato growers had to sell their potatoes at auction rates where Indian bidders from across the border also participated in the auction.

“We are buying potatoes here at a loss. The prices are high here but in India, we get lower prices as Bengal potatoes are available. In India, it’s 15 rupees for a kilogram of potatoes,” said Mohammad Ali, a bidder.

“It is not very profitable. We buy potatoes from the village at Nu 20. I have brought about three trucks here but at the auction yard, we are only getting Nu 17 to 20 per kilogram. So, for each truckload, we are incurring a loss of Nu 20,000,” said Chogyel, a potato trader.

“We came here with the expectation of making some profit. But the prices here are lower, so we are running at a loss,” said Terza Wangdi, a farmer from Trashigang.

Meanwhile, auction yard officials said that fetching Nu 19 to 20 is still considered a good price. They added that most local traders directly sell potatoes across the border, even at lower prices compared to auction rates.

The availability of Bhutanese potatoes in India is also affecting the auction prices.

“The price fluctuates based on demand and supply. Currently, there is less demand from India. Moreover, many traders directly sell potatoes to India at lower prices, which affects the auction prices,” said Sawdev Koirala, complex manager of FCBL in Samdrup Jongkhar.

As of now, the FCB auction yard in Samdrup Jongkhar has exported more than 180 metric tonnes of potatoes to India.

The potato auctioning will continue until December.

Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar

Edited by Sonam Pem

Previous Post

Successful passion fruit trial cultivation encourages other farmers in Nangkor Gewog, Zhemgang

Next Post

Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc causing roadblocks and swollen streams

Next Post
Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc causing roadblocks and swollen streams

Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc causing roadblocks and swollen streams

Visa applicants seek refunds as Australian visa consultancy faces accusations of mismanagement and embezzlement

Visa applicants seek refunds as Australian visa consultancy faces accusations of mismanagement and embezzlement

Staff shortage at Taba’s dental department leaves patients frustrated

Staff shortage at Taba's dental department leaves patients frustrated

Please login to join discussion

RECOMMENDED NEWS

Thriving through horticulture, a successful farmer’s journey

Thriving through horticulture, a successful farmer’s journey

2 years ago
0
Majority of class three students achieve above minimum proficiency in National Education Assessment 2021

Majority of class three students achieve above minimum proficiency in National Education Assessment 2021

2 years ago
5
Unlock, day one- caution is the word

Unlock, day one- caution is the word

5 years ago
0

Scholarship stipend increased

13 years ago
4

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Accidents (14)
  • Agriculture (416)
  • Announcement (171)
  • Business (733)
  • Crime/Legal (362)
  • Culture (43)
  • Development (49)
  • Disaster (56)
  • Economy (268)
  • Education (402)
  • Entertainment (11)
  • Environment (52)
  • Feature (65)
  • Featured (6)
  • Festival (77)
  • GMC (12)
  • Headlines (5)
  • Health (612)
  • Legal (51)
  • Literature (9)
  • Livestock (73)
  • Media (23)
  • Other Stories (5,451)
  • Politics (418)
  • RCSC (1)
  • Recent stories (5)
  • Religion (43)
  • Sci/Tech (708)
  • Social (479)
  • Sports (442)
  • Technology (190)
  • Tourism (17)
  • Uncategorized (13,865)
  • Video (128)
  • Video Story (241)
  • Wildlife (39)

BROWSE BY TOPICS

Tender Announcement Vacancy Announcement

POPULAR NEWS

  • BPC’s investigation rules out transformer short circuit as Damchhu forest fire cause

    Viral video of Bhutanese man assaulted by locals and police in Jaigaon sparks safety concerns

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gelephu Mindfulness City opens recruitment drive for Bhutanese professionals

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A centenarian’s recipe to longevity

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Post-mortem confirms foul play: Progress in investigation of 24-year-old woman’s death

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Newspaper accuses DPT candidate of political ploy

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
BBSCL

Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) is Bhutan’s primary national broadcaster, delivering diverse news and entertainment in multiple languages, fostering cultural understanding and public knowledge.

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • Infrastructure woes and relocation uncertainty hinder Olakha Automobile Workshop development
  • Health ministry reaffirms commitment to expand KMC practice nationwide
  • Construction of first Multi-Disciplinary Super-Speciality Hospital expected to begin next year
  • Wangdue Phodrang’s Daga Gewog nears goal of road access for every household
  • Bhutan debuts at Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 with Gelephu International Airport design

News Category

  • Accidents
  • Agriculture
  • Announcement
  • Business
  • Crime/Legal
  • Culture
  • Development
  • Disaster
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Festival
  • GMC
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • Legal
  • Literature
  • Livestock
  • Media
  • Other Stories
  • Politics
  • RCSC
  • Recent stories
  • Religion
  • Sci/Tech
  • Social
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Video Story
  • Wildlife
  • Contact Us
  • About BBS
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 BBSCL. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule

© 2024 BBSCL. All rights reserved.