About one and a half truckloads of ground apples are getting ready for harvest under Goenshari Gewog in Punakha. However, with markets closed amidst the pandemic, Othbar Mountain Horticulture Project, which initiated the commercial production, is worried.
While it remains not sure when the second nationwide lockdown will reopen amidst increasing cases, Othbar Mountain Horticulture Promotion Project is cut-off with the market. Their outlet in Phuentshogling is also closed.
Owing to good demand and medicinal value, the project developed seedlings on their own last year. And for the first time this year, the group planted the ground apples in around 70 decimals of land, for commercial purposes.
Ground apple is believed to cure diabetes and blood pressure.
Likewise, some 3000 kilograms of winter vegetables which include cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflowers are also ready for harvest. Unlike the ground apples, the market is not a worry. The dzongkhag and gewog agriculture sectors have agreed to render necessary support for supply.
Apart from agriculture, the project also plans to start with a dairy production unit soon with the financial support of Nu.2.8 million from the Cottage and Small Industry, SCI, bank. The project gets necessary technical support from the Organic Flagship Program of the Agriculture Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.
Meanwhile, the project has also employed nearly 20 Bhutanese youth in collaboration with the labour ministry, so far.
Othbar Mountain Horticulture Promotion Project is a registered Organic project under the National Centre for Organic Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. It was established last year.
Changa Dorji
