Bhutan’s local vegetable production and export has seen significant increase in four years between 2011-14. While production increased by more than 11,000 metric tonnes, exports jumped four fold in the same period.
Recording exponential increase in vegetable production, the agriculture ministry is looking to achieve 100 percent self-sufficiency in vegetable in the next four years.
Achieving self-sufficiency today has been obstructed by a seasonality issue when Bhutan experiences surplus vegetable production in summer and a near zero production in winter.
Officials from the agriculture ministry said, almost 90 percent of the vegetable requirement is imported during winter. However, export of vegetable during summer has increased from Nu16 M in 2011 to Nu 87 M, last year.
Local vegetable production in Bhutan in winter has been challenged due to scarcity of water and a relatively higher cost of production compared to India.
“Although, both production and export of local vegetable has increased, there has also been increase in import of vegetables from India,” said the National Vegetable Program Coordinator under Horticulture Division, Namgay Thinley.
He said Bhutan faces competition from India during winter. “Bhutanese producers also cannot compete with their Indian counterparts in terms of cost of production. In addition, there is also an issue of scarcity of water in winter.”
Bhutan grows more than 30 varieties of vegetables. Considering demand, agro-climatic suitability and export potential, the ministry today has prioritized around 17 vegetables including broccoli, carrot, and cauliflower.
In 2014, over Nu 27 M has been spent on various initiatives to increase local vegetable production. The amount utilised was only Nu 5 M in 2011.
Chili continues to be the most grown vegetable in Bhutan.
