Ginger has been one of the sources of income for the farmers of Khangma Chiwog in Pema Gatshel. But they haven’t been able to sell their harvest due to the COVID-19 pandemic for two years now. They are waiting for the gewog agriculture sector to intervene.
If not for the pandemic, ginger would get sold by this time of the year. But with no buyers, farmers are worried. They usually send ginger to Samdrup Jongkhar. But the mandatory seven-day quarantine from high risk to low risk has discouraged many buyers.
“Due to the pandemic, we haven’t been able to sell our gingers since last year. We thought we could sell it better this year as we have cultivated more with support from the government. But I think it would remain unsold this year as well” said Passang Lhamo, a farmer in Khangma Chiwog.
“In the past, we used to cultivate more than what we are cultivating now. But since last year amid the pandemic, we couldn’t find the market and we have buried our produce,” said Karma Yangki, another farmer.
With no market, farmers are discouraged from cultivating ginger. They fear that their income will be affected if intervention is delayed.
Meanwhile, as per the agriculture extension officer, it has been difficult to get buyers amid the pandemic. However, they are exploring the market.
More than 30 households cultivated ginger on about ten acres of land in the chiwog last year.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam Pem
