For many farmers in Changray village under Dragteng Gewog in Trongsa, chilli cultivation is an important source of income. Farmers earn not only from selling chillies but also from chilli saplings, which they supply to farmers in nearby areas. However, a hailstorm in April damaged their saplings, leaving more than 20 households facing a significant loss of income.
Changray village is among the earliest chilli-producing communities in Trongsa.
Every year, farmers begin raising chilli saplings well ahead of the planting season. They do not just raise the sapling for themselves. They sell the saplings to farmers in nearby areas and districts, making them an important source of income.
This year, however, a hailstorm in April damaged a large number of saplings. The loss reduced both sapling sales and chilli production later in the season.
Farmers say they usually use the income from sapling sales to cover expenses for paddy cultivation. But this year, the reduced harvest left them with much less income.
“Comparing the chilli and its sapling, we used to earn more by selling the sapling. This year, due to the hailstorm, sapling and chilli couldn’t make good income for us,” said Phuntsho, a farmer.
“Actually, we would have earned more than that. The hailstorms dropped all the leaves and spoiled them during the tender period. Even though we could sell some after revival. Actually, we used to earn more than Nu 50,000 to 60,000. But I earned almost Nu 10,000 this year by sending saplings,” said Tsagay, also a farmer.
Farmers say they cultivate chilli saplings on a large scale every year because of the strong market demand.
They add that while they can manage pests and diseases through proper farming practices, there is little they can do to protect their crops from natural disasters such as hailstorms.
Despite this year’s setback, farmers remain committed to continuing chilli cultivation.
They hope favourable weather will help them recover their losses and maintain the supply of chillies and saplings to markets in the district.
Thinley Dorji, Bumthang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
