Against the backdrop of a pandemic that has changed the course of daily life and economy of the country at large, it has also witnessed people and businesses embrace the unexpected in creative ways. New opportunities and business models are emerging in the wake of COVID-19 for those that are ready. Highland dairy products is one such example that is positive of tackling inconveniences caused by this pandemic.
Phuntsho Wangdi from Sagteng in Trashigang was a tourist driver who lost his job to this pandemic. When the problem was already surging up in his life, he heard about problems in his village because of a similar reason. That is when he decided to kill two birds with one stone. He started a fermented cheese locally known as Zoetey business in the capital.
Today, he is the coordinator head for Highland Dairy Products. Talking to BBS, he says the pandemic has affected the trade, “Merak and Sagteng cannot trade with Arunachal Pradesh which is why our people there are in a difficult situation. Today because there is no 100 per cent trade between people, they are not sure when will people come and take their produce. We will know about this condition only when we go to the village. Inside the house, all the Zoeteys and butter are in stock. And it is only this year we came to know about this difficulty.”
One month in the business and he already collected almost 2,500 kilograms of fermented cheese from Sagteng Gewog, a local delicacy famous in the area, and perhaps in the country too. If not for COVID-19, over 80 per cent of Zoetey is sold in Tawang.
“If you go around Trashigang town, Radhi and Phongmey, We can see Indian rupees in abundance. Now that we think of, we came to know this time only that this money comes from highlanders doing such trades,” he said.
Supporting highland products, the store was officially inaugurated by the Agriculture Minister.
He added, he started up the business inspired by His Majesty’s continuous support to the people. he says, “if we do not do such thing at this time, I don’t know if we can continue asking for support.”
If the business proves successful, Phuntsho and his team plan to collect such dairy products from Merak Gewog as well. They are hopeful the business will flourish and that a small store in the capital will benefit entire highlanders in the east.
Samten Dolkar
