Farmers in Zhemgang have been collecting bamboo shoots from the forests for personal consumption for ages now. The practice still exists. But now with more people demanding the farmers are collecting more for commercial purposes.
Our reporter in Zhemgang, Pema Samdrup, says with paddy transplantation over the farmers are busy collecting bamboo shoots.
The farmers move in groups searching for bamboo shoots in the forests. It is abundant at this time of the year. “Fresh bamboo shoots are available throughout the year with a peak season from late spring to early summer. It is a waste if we don’t harvest, it is destroyed by the wild animals. So we collect it to earn whatever little we can,” says Yeshila, a farmer in Zhemgang.
Bamboo shoots consist of several fibrous layers tightly bound and overlapping one another to form a conical point. Many say bamboo shoots are crisp and tender, comparable to asparagus, with a flavor similar to corn.
A bamboo shoot fetches about Nu. 30. However, locals say collecting bamboo shoots is risky because of wild animals. Zhemgang is one of the Dzongkhags known for bamboo products in the country.
