More than 25 acres of potato field was destroyed by a hailstorm in Jamkhar Gewog of Trashi Yangtse on April 2.
The hailstorm has flattened the potato plants belonging to over 60 households as of yesterday’s assessment.
Farmers are upset with the severe damage and are sceptical of this year’s yield. But, some of them are hopeful that it might not hamper their production. Usually, a farmer earns over Nu 50,000 in a year from potatoes.
“This year the yield looked promising, and we hoped to make some income. But the hailstorm damaged everything. We have no alternate source of income. We are disheartened and worried as to what are we going to eat and how to meet expenditure for our children,” Dema Lhamo, a farmer, said.
“Last year, the yield was not so good. This year we were expecting a better yield, but the hailstorm damaged our crop,” Wangmo, another farmer, said.
Of the total five chiwogs, the farmers of Chhema_Taagchhema and Laishoom_Largyab chiwogs were affected the most.
The gewog administration and agriculture extension officer are still assessing the remaining affected villages.
