Owing to marketing issues, farmers of Goling in Nangkor Gewog in Zhemgang have reduced the production of green chilli during the winter. The farmers there have decreased cultivation by almost half, the last winter. They started mass winter chilli cultivation in 2020 to meet the local demand.
Just two years ago, farmers of Goling started mass winter chilli cultivation on about eight acres of land. As the fields yielded a bountiful harvest, the farmers also enjoyed a steady price for the spice without any marketing challenge.
However, by last winter, the farmers there have downsized their production. They cultivated the spice on only about four acres of land with some producing it just for self-consumption. Farmers said this is because despite lowering the price, they had a tough time selling the spice last year. They fetched only about Nu 300 per kilogram last season.
“We have decreased the production this time because we were quite sceptical about finding a good market as the government allowed the import of green chillies from India,” said Ugyen Penjor, a farmer from Goling.
“Even if the production is good, marketing is an issue. The produce gets damaged when we cannot sell it on time. We cannot even dry the chilli with summer approaching,” said Tshering Dorji, another farmer from Goling.
Winter chilli from Goling would be the first to hit the markets in Zhemgang. The farmers cultivate the spice in December. And it will be ready for harvest by early May.
Initially, about 15 households in the village took up winter chilli cultivation. And each individual earned a minimum of about Nu 30,000.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Phub Gyem
