Starting this year, areca nut growers in Sarpang can easily export their produce to Assam. Till date, areca nut exports were only permitted through Phuentshogling and Samtse. The export via Gelephu to Assam was officially approved in September last year.
Recently, officials from the Regional Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives Office or RAMCO met with the exporters and importers.
Officials briefed them on the requirement and new regulations.
Dawa Dakpa, Regional Coordinator of RAMCO said “Importers from India must secure a quota from the Government of India (GOI), which has a limit of up to 200 metric tonnes. Without this quota, exporting will be challenging. Additionally, they must obtain complete plant quarantine certificates. Previously, the areca nut is directly loaded onto the trucks. But now, the loaded truck must be weighed once in Bhutan and at Datgari in India.”
While talking with the exporters, they said with this new official route, exporting areca nut is expected to become easier.
In the past, although there was no official route via Gelephu, exporters from Sarpang were permitted to trade based on mutual understanding to Assam.
Kado, one of the exporters said “Until now, we have been trading collaboratively with India without regulating the price. However, with the implementation of the new standards this year, I believe it will be highly beneficial, especially for business owners. In the past, there were instances where goods were exported without receiving payment.”
Sangay Wangdi, another exporter said “It will benefit both the people and the government. Since it is an official route, we will not face payment issue. However, a drawback is that, as we have to pay tax, we might have to pay lower than the previous amount to the farmers.”
Bhutan exported more than 5,400 metric tonnes of areca nut which is worth of Nu 251.15 M last year. And Sarpang is among the top areca nut producing districts in the country.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Tshering Zam
