Faced with stiff competition and a limited market, a farmer’s dairy group in Trashigang has been forced to take up “Chugo” production. With so many dairy groups in Trashigang, capturing the market is now a challenge.
The farmers’ dairy group in Yongphula has been facing problem in marketing their dairy products. The group, Domkhar Manthung Om Daytshen, was formed in 2010 with 42 members. It started marketing its products since 2012, but has met with little success. With so many dairy-farming groups, the group members could not find a market for their dairy products.
Since other dairy groups are supplying products like butter and cheese in the existing market, the group has come up with a new alternative. The group decided to produce the hardened cheese, locally known as “Chugo”, which the other groups are not producing.
According to group members, they could hardly sell around 20 liters of milk in a day. The members collect around one hundreds liters in a day. The leftover milk is converted into butter and cheese but have no market to sell it.
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“Since we have so many dairy groups selling dairy products, it has become difficult to. We began by selling milk, then butter and cheese. But business has not been good so we decided to produce chugo,” said the Chairperson of Domkhar Manthung Om Daytshen, Lha Nga Dorji.
The group has started producing “Chugo” with assistance from the Trashigang Livestock Department and Regional Livestock Development Center in Kanglung.
“Kanglung is known for its dairy products and with so many dairy groups in the market, sales are being affected. There is the need for a different product, “said Sangay Rinchen, the Livestock Gewog Extension Supervisor.
The group’sfirst production of Chugo will be sold during the Trashigang Tshechu. The members are hopeful of finding a market this time.
