Tsirang was hit by a hailstorm yesterday, more than two years after the last such incident in the district. Farmers say the storm damaged acres of crops, fruits and vegetables.
In Sergithang Gewog, more than 105 households cultivated chilli on over 71 acres of land this year. Farmers had already harvested the crop three times and expected two more harvests this season.
However, they say about 80 per cent of the chilli plants were damaged by the hailstorm. Early Bhutanese chilli is one of the main cash crops in the gewog.
The storm also damaged maize, buckwheat, watermelon and other vegetables.
Similar damage has been reported in Tsirang Toed, Pungtenchhu, Semjong, and Kilkhorthang gewogs.
Damage has also been reported in the rest of the gewogs. However, local leaders and gewog agriculture extension supervisors say the damage in these areas is less severe than in Sergithang, and only a few farmers have been affected.
A few houses in the district also reported minor roof damage.
Farmers who lost maize and mandarin orchards had not signed up for the National Crop and Livestock Insurance Scheme. The incident has again highlighted the importance of crop and livestock insurance for farmers facing unpredictable weather.
Officials are currently assessing the extent of the losses.
A heavy hailstorm in April 2024 had also affected vegetables and cereals on more than 290 acres of farmland and over 58,000 fruit trees belonging to 1,200 households in the district.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
