While many businesses across the country are running into an unprecedented loss due to the pandemic, it has come as a blessing for some. A farmers’ group in Shumar Gewog of Pema Gatshel is overwhelmed with orange supply as farmers in the district could not export their produce because of the pandemic. The group runs a Fruit Processing Plant.
These days, members of the Dungsam Sonam Gongphel Detshen in Nangkor are busy producing pulp. The pulp is the soft juicy edible flesh of the fruits.
The group produces almost one metric tonne or one thousand litres of orange pulp in a day.
“We could not produce much last year. This year farmers from other gewogs also brought their oranges here. We have bought more than 33 metric tonnes of oranges. This has benefited us and we are thinking it has benefited them as well,” said Tashi Jamtsho, the chairperson of the Dungsam Sonam Gongphel Detshen.
“Everyone of us has to eat and survive. Everyone is suffering. Most of the farmers bring their small-sized oranges here, as they cannot take it to the market. They bring as far as from Chimung, Tsebar, and Dagor. This is helping all the people in the Dzongkhag,” added Sangay, a member of the farmer’s group.
The orange pulp is sent to the Bhutan Agro Industries Limited. Farmers are paid Nu 12 for a kilogram of oranges by the group. On average, around two kilograms of oranges produce one litre of pulp. They then sell the pulp at Nu 26.5 for a litre to Bhutan Agro Industries Limited.
Although the group has bought enough oranges to meet their requirement, they are still receiving calls from farmers who want to sell their fruits to the group.
“After all their hardship, farmers cannot take their products to sell elsewhere. And we cannot buy them as we are done with meeting the demand,” the chairperson said.
“Due to the pandemic, they cannot export their oranges to the neighbouring countries. That is why most of them are bringing their products here. We are making almost 30 metric tonnes of pulp. After that, if Bhutan agro says they don’t want anymore, then we cannot do anything. But if they will continue to buy the products, we will take the oranges as well,” said Sangay.
The farmer’s group with help from the National Post Harvest Sub-Center in Shumar is hoping to request the Bhutan Agro Industries Limited to increase their demand for orange pulp.
Dungsam Sonam Gongphel Detshen was established in 2012 and currently has five members.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
