This year farmers will not have to visit Phuentshogling, Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephug auction yards to sell their farm produce. In light of the COVID -19 pandemic, the Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB) has introduced a buy-back scheme right from the source of the farm produce.
According to FCB, farmers will be directly benefitting as they don’t have to worry about any cost associated with transportation or trading.
FCB Director, Dorji Tashi said,”In the past farmers had to travel to the auction yards and wait for at least a minimum of two weeks to trade their agriculture produce.”
The FCB will be buying the vegetables based on the government-approved rates of twenty-four different farm products. The rates range from Nu 4 to Nu 48 per kg.
However, not everyone is happy with the approved rates. While the approved rates have already drawn a lot of criticism on social media platforms, some farmers in Monggar also said that the rates were very low.
A vegetable vendor from Themnangbi, Kencho Tenzin said that they spend labour charges of Nu 500 per day to cultivate potatoes. “If we sell potatoes for the first time in the vegetable market, it would fetch us Nu 50 per kg. If we sell to FCB at the approved Nu 18 per kg rate, I feel the rate is too less to even cover the labor charge. ”
He also added that they fetch at least Nu.100 per kg for broccoli and beans. The FCB rate for broccoli is Nu 23 and beans is Nu 35.
Another vegetable vendor, Jamyang said that they mostly grow vegetables like potatoes, beans, radish and spinach. “If we have to sell it to FCB at the wholesale rate and if they are willing to offer us only Nu 18 per kg for potatoes, I feel the rate is too low for us.
However, Themnangbi_Kitongri Tshogpa Ugyen Namgyel feels otherwise. He said that it is convenient for them if FCB is willing to buy cabbage, cauliflower, and beans from them at the government-approved rate as FCB would be buying vegetables in large quantities.
“If we have to sell 30 to 40 kg of vegetables in the market, we won’t finish selling it in a day,” he said.
The FCB Director Dorji Tashi said that considering the country’s current situation, the approved rate of vegetables is a reasonable one. He also said that prior to announcing the approved rates, FCB also carried out thorough research in consultation with the government on the previous prices of vegetables from the auction yards.
“ For example for large size of red potatoes, we are offering 1800 per quintal which is Nu 18 per kg. If we just look at the price alone it may look little modest but people do not realize indirect cost associated with it for example transportation, loading and unloading charges and the cost incurred for accommodation and food in the auction yards,” he added.
The FCB has identified various locations across the country to collect vegetable products. After buying back the agriculture products from the farmers, FCB will make instant payment and then trade the products through online platforms in India and other countries.
To educate and sensitize relevant stakeholders and farmers, a team from FCB, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, and Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan have been conducting various consultation meetings in Dzongkhags.
In Monggar a daylong meeting with relevant stakeholders was carried out yesterday.
Sonam Tshering
