Once a truck driver, now a successful maize farmer. In Monggar, the humble maize is turning into a golden crop. And it’s drawing more people back to the fields, and into profit.
In Monggar, maize farming is no longer just a tradition. It is becoming a booming business. It is even drawing people away from other professions.
Take Dechen Norbu for example. The 46-year-old from Chali once drove trucks for a living. But now, he is growing and selling maize and making more money than ever before.
He and his wife rent an acre of land right beside the Monggar highway. Together, they grow, roast, and sell maize in different forms, from freshly roasted cobs to packets of beaten maize.
Dechen Norbu said, “I think it is profitable because we get 100 ngultrum for just three roasted cobs. On average, we make over 2,000 ngultrum a day. On good days, like yesterday, I made over 8,000 ngultrum from selling maize. It is hard work, but compared to my previous job as a driver, selling maize is more profitable.”
Nearby, Pem Dorji is already back in the field after finishing his morning stock. He cultivates maize on more than two acres of rented land.
His wife, Tshering Choden, shells and roasts the maize in a temporary hut beside the field. In about an hour, they roast two tins of maize, filling the air with a sweet, smoky aroma.
Dechen joins Pem Dorji to help with beating the roasted maize, a task that needs more than one pair of hands.
Tshering says they made more than 300,000 ngultrum last year. And this year, they’ve already crossed the 200,000 ngultrum mark.
Pem Dorji said, “Our only real challenge is wild boars attacking our maize fields. There is also a bit of a pest problem. Otherwise, we don’t face many issues. So far, even the monkeys have not come near our fields.”
“Last year, we earned over 300,000 ngultrum from selling maize. And this year, as of now, I think we have already crossed 200,000 ngultrum,” said Tshering Choden.
Their maize season lasts about a month. After that, they will begin paddy transplantation.
Today, there are more than 11 maize sellers along this stretch of the highway, up from just four a few years ago.
For many in Monggar, the road to better livelihoods is now paved with golden maize.
Namgay Wangchuk, Monggar
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
