For more than a year now, farmers of Saling Gewog in Monggar have been enjoying free transportation to market their local produce. A DCM truck, granted by His Majesty the King, during the National Day celebrations in Kanglung in 2014, has made this possible.
The Office of the Gyaltshab in Gyalpoizhing operates the truck.
Lhamo is one among many villagers of Saling come to Gyalpoizhing with farm produce. They come to the market every Sunday. Lhamo has been able to save enough money for groceries and also some more for her son’s school.
“Earlier, since we had to pay for transportation, we could save only a little from the amount we got through selling vegetables,” said Lhamo.
Saling Gup, Sonam Yeshi said such a facility has encouraged villagers to take up mass vegetable cultivation.
“During off season, when we don’t cultivate vegetables, we collect wild mushroom, ferns and Bamboo shoot, among others and bring it to Sunday market to sell.”
An official from the Office of the Gyaltshab, Dorji Sangay said the DCM truck was to provide farmers with easy access to market.
“The truck is not just utilised in Lingmethang and Gyalpoizhing but also in other parts of the region to attend to emergency cases. It has really benefited the people here.”