For years, monsoon has disrupted the daily milk run for dairy farmers of Orong Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar. With improvement works underway on 12 kilometre road between Shikpashing and the Gewog Centre, farmers are hopeful of a more reliable route to market. For many villagers, selling fresh milk is a primary source of income.
The Orong Gewog produces 2,000 litres of milk daily.
From cowsheds in the gewog to markets across the border town in India, fresh milk travels every day.
But roads with potholes and uneven stretches have made the journey difficult, often causing milk wastage. And during the monsoon, the road gets blocked by a landslide, often affecting the business.
Now, with road improvement works underway on the Gewog Centre Road, dairy farmers say transportation will become easier and faster, helping them deliver fresh milk to the market.
Jigme Dorji, a farmer from Orong Gewog said, “We face problems transporting milk. Sometimes the roads get blocked, and we don’t have machines to clear them. As a result, the milk gets spoiled before it reaches the market.”
“During the monsoon, we cannot transport milk because the roads get blocked. Right now, it’s fine. In a month, villagers earn around Nu 20,000 to 30,000. Road improvement work will help us because the roads won’t get blocked like before,” said Kinga Dema, another farmer.
“When the roads get blocked, we have to bring the milk back and try to make cheese. Selling fresh milk is more profitable; we get Nu 48 for a litre of milk, but only Nu 30 for a ball of cheese. So selling milk is better for us,” said Tshering Chophel, also a farmer.
“We sell milk every day, but blocked roads make it hard. Turning milk into cheese takes workers, firewood, and time. A road that can be used all year would really help us,” said Cheku, another farmer.
To support farmers and improve transport, the Department of Surface Transport is carrying out road improvement works with a budget of about Nu 88 M.
Currently, road-widening work is underway. Road improvement works include blacktopping, drainage, and wall construction along the slide areas. The project is expected to be completed by February next year.
As road improvement work continues, dairy farmers are hopeful that the project will be completed on time, ensuring that every drop of milk counts and reaches the market fresh.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
