Anticipating a brisk business, a group of women in Gesarling Gewog in Dagana ventured into commercial orchid farming last year. But today, the group is struggling to stay afloat with low demand for the plant.
Dagana is known for its abundant varieties of orchids. The orchid farm has over five hundred orchids with four varieties of edible and non-edible orchids.
The group members say people are not willing to buy orchids although a bunch of orchid flowers costs only Nu 100 and Nu 150 for the saplings.
The Gesarling Women’s Orchid Farm is located a few metres away from the Gesarling Central School along the newly opened Dagapela-Dalbari highway.
“Only a few orchids bloomed flowers but not many people are willing to buy them. We also sell saplings but we could sell only around Nu 3,000 worth in the last one and half years,” said Tashi Chezom, a member of the Gesarling Women’s Orchid Farm.
But this has not discouraged the group from growing orchids. The group has plans to upscale the production to make orchids available beyond the district.
“We couldn’t expand the area since the current area belongs to a private individual. We have the plan to extend the area in the future. For that, we have applied for the state land lease to the Gewog administration,” said Tashi Chezom.
“We are not able to nurture orchids well since we are into the business for the first time. We feel that we can raise orchids better if we get training. A better shed will also help improve marketing since it is located along the highway,” added Indra Maya Gurung, another member.
The group initially had nine members but two of them left recently. With the support of Nu 300,000 from the Dagana Dzongkhag’s Economic Development Office, the group initiated the orchid farm.
Orchids are harvested, grown and traded for a variety of purposes including as decorative plants, medicinal products and food.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
Edited by Sonam Pem
