For many hazelnut growers in Bumthang, the journey towards a meaningful harvest has been a long and patient wait. More than a decade after planting the trees, farmers are finally seeing production pick up, renewing hope among growers.
These hazelnut trees have been part of Bumthang’s landscape since 2013.
Farmers planted the saplings with hopes that the orchards would eventually provide a reliable source of income. But for years, many trees produced far fewer nuts than growers had hoped for.
To address the problem, the Hazelnut office began supplying polliniser saplings and carried out grafting programmes to improve pollination and increase production. The interventions are now beginning to show results.
And for the farmers, the growing harvest is bringing renewed confidence in orchards they had once begun to doubt.
“It is a happy moment for us. The company has made a significant investment, and it has helped us improve production. The officials also visit us and advise us to clear the grass. We followed their advice accordingly. If the production continues to improve every year, it would definitely benefit farmers like us,” said Nagphay, a farmer in Chumey Gewog, Bumthang.
“The office started supplying male tree saplings, and a few years later, the other trees started producing nuts. These fruiting trees are the ones they supplied later. It has made a lot of difference after implementing these ideas,” said Sangay, a farmer in Choekhor Gewog, Bumthang.
“I am very happy. Now, I don’t have to work for others, and I don’t have to wait until the end of the month to receive a salary like civil servants. The income I earn from hazelnuts can cover my expenses for the whole year. So, I do not have any regrets. Instead, I feel very happy,” said Tashi Norbu, a farmer in Tang Gewog, Bumthang.
At the current buying price of Nu 150 per kilogram, farmers say a good harvest is beginning to offer them a meaningful source of income.
“Before last year, I harvested only half a kilogram and earned Nu Nu 50. Last year, I earned Nu 490. So, this year, I am expecting to earn more. I am also hoping that the production will continue to increase every year without any harm,” said Pema Tshomo, a farmer in Tang Gewog, Bumthang.
“I am hoping to get more than 100 kilograms. The production is always increasing. This year, most of the plants started producing fruit, which was not the case last year. Even the small plants in the upper field have started producing, and I am hoping the production will double by next year,” said Thinley Phuntsho, also a farmer in Tang Gewog, Bumthang.
However, the recovery has not brought every farmer back to the orchards. Of 483 households registered with the Hazelnut office in Bumthang, 335 households are currently active. Officials say many of those who stopped maintaining their orchards lost confidence in the project after their trees failed to produce nuts as expected.
Currently, more than 100 households have started harvesting hazelnuts.
To encourage farmers, the hazelnut office has been providing support beyond pollination and grafting. Farmers have received assistance including water supply, manure and other orchard management inputs. Measures have also been introduced to protect the nuts from birds and wild animals.
The office also provides incentives to help farmers maintain their fields.
“Firstly, we have an incentive programme where farmers can participate in a free lottery based on their production. Secondly, we also provide grass-cutting machines to help them maintain their orchards. In addition, we pay Nu 3,000 per acre for grass cutting, which farmers are required to carry out three times a year,” said Dechen Pelden, Operation Head, Hazelnut Regional Office, Bumthang.
As more orchards begin producing, farmers are now hoping that the long wait will eventually pay off.
Thinley Dorji, Bumthang
Edited by Sonam Pem
