The people of Yebisa Chiwog in Punakha, once relying on chilli cultivation, are now adapting to the changing climate that has introduced new challenges. Experts say the warmer temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns could have allowed pests to thrive, significantly impacting chilli production. In response, farmers are shifting their focus to cucumber seedlings, which are less vulnerable to pests and require fewer resources, such as water and labour.
50-year-old Wangmo has expanded her cucumber plantation this season after an unprecedented pest invasion destroyed her chilli plants last year.
She said cucumbers offer a better return and are easier to grow in the current climate conditions.
The mother of two says since her chilli plants were damaged by pests last year, her income has been reduced significantly.
She said, “I decided not to sow many chilli seeds this year. Instead, we have planted more cucumber seeds, expecting a better price than chillies. This time, I have planted cucumber seeds in eight terraces of paddy fields, while chilli seeds have been sown in only two terraces.”
Fellow farmers, like Tshering Wangchuk and Passang, share similar experiences of pest-related losses. Tshering’s chilli crop was ruined last year, leading him to double his cucumber production this time. Passang says that cucumber farming is less labour-intensive and more manageable, even on larger plots of land.
“Last year, I planted chillies on about 25 decimals of land, but they were all damaged by pests. I could not even recover the expenses. That is why I decided to switch and plant more cucumber seedlings this time. Last year, I planted cucumbers on 25 decimals of land, and this time, I have doubled the area,” said Tshering Wangchuk.
Passang added, “Cucumber cultivation is much easier compared to chilli cultivation. The work can be managed easily even on 25 decimals of land. However, chilli cultivation requires at least twenty people to work on the same size of land.”
Experts said climate change is a key factor in the pest issues affecting chilli crops. A National Plant Protection Centre report highlights that caterpillars have become a major threat to chilli and tomato crops in Bhutan. The rise in temperatures is thought to create ideal conditions for caterpillars and other pests to thrive, exacerbating the challenges farmers face.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Kipchu
