After producing surplus vegetables, more than what’s required in the high-end hotels in Thimphu, Gasa district’s Rangzhin Sanam Detshen has now taken a different approach to sell their produce. The farmers’ group is now venturing into processing farm produce. Rangzhin Sanam Detshen is a 16-member farmer’s cooperative.
Rangzhin Sanam Detshen became the first certified organic farmers’ group in Gasa to supply vegetables to the hotels in Thimphu in 2017. However, over the years, the demand from the hotels reduced for more than half of their farm produce. The surplus vegetables are now processed into different kinds of food items.
“Now, we dry the vegetables and cereal varieties, and do proper packaging by adding value to our products. For example, we process our potatoes into chips and convert carrots into candies. This is being done in collaboration with National Post Harvest Center in Paro. We have provided training and have now started marketing these products,” said Choeki Wangchuk, assistant district agriculture officer.
Through the collaboration with the National Post Harvest Center in Paro, four members from the farmers’ group were trained in value addition of products last year.
“I also participated in a three-day training in Gasa where I learned how to bake a cake and make biscuits, and chips. They even trained us on how to peel potatoes. We have been provided with free seeds. So, year after year, we are feeling more enthusiastic,” said Sonam Zangmo, a member of the group.
“We make chips, cookies from wheat and buckwheat flour, and many different products. We sold our chips during last year’s National Day and the business was good. Hereon, we are hopeful that our products will continue to sell well. Moreover, our cookies are also very popular,” said Kinzang Thinleymo, another farmer.
“Compared to the previous years, we have been provided with a lot of bio-pesticides this time and have also been given a lot of marketing opportunities. From now onwards, we are exploring and looking for a lot of support and funds and putting in a lot of effort,” said Pema Wangmo, chairperson of the group.
The district has also procured various machines such as drying and grinding machines, flour mills, and oil expellers to achieve this goal. Furthermore, cold storage facility with a 20 metric-ton capacity has also been built in Khatoed Gewog to help farmers store perishable goods.
According to the district agriculture office, marketing challenges, pests and diseases have discouraged the farmers and tested their efforts. However, the district plans to provide capacity-building training to the farmers’ group and supply bio-pesticides to overcome these hurdles.
Kesang Wangmo, Gasa
Edited by Sonam Pem
