To promote cereal production and uplift the community, a youth in Gomdar Gewog of Samdrup Jongkhar has launched a baking business. Not only is the business providing delicious baked goods, but it is also creating a local market for buckwheat, benefiting the villagers in the region.
25-year-old, Yejay Norbu, opened a pastry shop at Gomdar-Richhanglu Chiwog about a month ago. He bakes buckwheat bread and cookies.
He buys buckwheat flour from the villagers paying Nu 100 for a kilogramme.
“Buckwheat production is high in Gomdar. But we do not see people making any value-added products using flour. So, I decided to bake bread using buckwheat as I was trained in baking buckwheat bread. It is going well as bakeries in Samdrup Jongkhar do not make buckwheat bread,” said Yejay Norbu, a bakery owner in Gomdar Gewog.
Some villagers depending solely on buckwheat cultivation say such an initiative by the youth in the village is encouraging them to cultivate more cereal.
Recently Gomdar Gewog exported two metric tonnes of sweet buckwheat to Pema Gatshel. Villagers also supply it to Bumthang.
“Some of us here cultivate only buckwheat. So, it will benefit us. It allows the villagers to earn extra income,” said Leki Duba, a resident.
“It will benefit us as we can sell it to him and earn some income. We depend on buckwheat only,” said Norbu, a resident,
“A few villagers have sold buckwheat to him. We supplied to buyers outside the district, last year,” said Sherab Gyeltshen, a resident.
“Villagers can produce more buckwheat and I can buy it from them without paying transportation charges. So, it is beneficial for me too,” said Yejay Norbu.
Currently, Yejay sells his buckwheat bread and cookies within Gomdar Gewog.
Now, with the district agriculture sector approving his bread and cookies as products of the Samjong brand, he is expecting to find a market outside the gewog.
The recently launched Samjong brand intends to promote the agricultural and RNR products of Samdrup Jongkhar to consumers beyond the district by establishing sales outlets.
This development by Yejay not only boosts the income of farmers but also strengthens the local economy by encouraging self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on external markets.
This inspiring initiative sets an example for other aspiring entrepreneurs and showcases the power of youth-driven initiatives in driving positive change within communities.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
