There is never a dry season for farmers in Punakha. They are engaged in cultivating crops year-round. Around this time of the year, farmers of Khilikhar-Lungkha Chiwog of Dzomi Gewog remain busy harvesting and transporting cucumbers to nearby markets. Farmers of the Chiwog grow cucumber on a large scale to supplement their income.
Fifty-three-year-old Namgay Zam of Lungkha village spends most of her time in the field harvesting cucumber.
It is not an easy task. But, the mother of four says, it helps her earn extra income to cover household expenses.
She mostly sells her harvest at the nearby markets and occasionally transports them to Thimphu.
She has cultivated cucumbers on around fifty decimals of land and plans to expand cultivation if she gets the expected price throughout the harvesting season.
“So far, I have sold around 30 sacks of cucumbers and earned about Nu 50,000. I’m expecting to earn more, as the market price is good right now. However, the price normally drops gradually. Sometimes, we have to sell cucumbers for as low as Nu 60 to 20 per kilogramme. I hope to continue growing cucumber in the future if we can get the prices we earn today.”
Like Namgay, other farmers in the village remain busy harvesting cucumbers. Some of them have vendors coming till their doorsteps to buy the produce while some take it to nearby markets themselves. Currently, a kilogramme of cucumber fetches between Nu 80 and 100.
Tandin Wangmo, a farmer said “Last year, I cultivated cucumbers on only around 25 decimals of land because was unwell. However, this year, I have doubled cultivation. If we get a good price this time, I will try to increase the cultivation area even more next year. The income is helpful in covering expenses during the upcoming paddy cultivation season. We manage all our expenditures from this income.”
Namgay Pem, another farmer said “Last year, I earned a good income. After deducting all expenses and transportation charges, I was able to keep Nu 270,000 from the income I earned from selling cucumbers. However, this year, I haven’t been able to sell much so far and have earned only around Nu 60,000.”
Although price is not an issue, due to the limited local market, some farmers have to take their produce to Thimphu which becomes a challenge as there is no designated space for them to sell their local produce.
Namgay Lham added that “Three of us recently went to Thimphu to sell cucumbers but there was no proper place for us to sell. We were sent to a corner where no customers drop by. The designated spots are occupied by people who pay, and as farmers, we are restricted from selling in those areas. Although we are given a place, it’s usually in a corner where customers do not visit. This has left us feeling very discouraged to continue agricultural work back home.”
Farmers transplant cucumber saplings in January and harvest it from mid-April till mid-June. There are more than sixty households in the chiwog and almost everyone cultivates cucumber on at least 50 decimals of land.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Phub Gyem
