Cereal production including rice, maize, wheat and buckwheat among others has been in a downward spiral in the country. According to the Agriculture Ministry, this is due to a declining workforce in cereal cultivation. On the other hand, farmers have been focusing more on vegetable production due to the availability of the market and profit.
The Ministry of Agriculture is still trying to maintain cereal production to meet the national food and nutrition security needs. However, despite the ministry’s efforts, production has decreased.
According to the Agriculture Survey Report and the State of the Nation Report, from over 100,000 Metric Tons of cereal production in 2018, it decreased to about 70,000 metric tons last year.
“The concern goes without saying. When food and nutrition security has to be achieved, the reduction of the production of cereals is a serious concern, but it is also almost a helpless effort. When there are no workers, how can you afford to produce more?” said Yeshey Penjor, the Agriculture Minister.
On the other hand, vegetable production has increased significantly in the past two years.
According to the agriculture ministry, the reason for the increase can be attributed to the availability of the market and profit for vegetables and fruits which are higher than it is for cereals.
“Firstly, it can meet the food and nutrition needs of the country. There is also an opportunity to export and earn revenue from the export of fruits and vegetables. For cereals, we can try to meet the national food and nutrition security needs only. There is lesser chance to export cereals and earn revenue out of it,” added the Agriculture Minister.
“People are more interested in growing vegetables. We can grow cereals only once a year, and people can’t even sell them much. With vegetables, we can make income every week. That is why even the youth are more interested in growing vegetables,” said Meena Ghishing, a farmer in Tsirang.
“If the Ministry of Agriculture could help us find a market to export, we will definitely further expand vegetable production in our farms. It would be great if the government could do that for us,” said Phurba Moktan, another farmer in Tsirang.
The farmers in the country started focusing more on growing vegetables during the pandemic to ensure food security. And it continues.
Karma Samten Wangda
Edited by Sonam Pem & Tshering Zam
