The people of Khatoed and Khamaed Gewogs in Gasa are worried after recent heavy snow damaged their greenhouses. About 100 greenhouses collapsed last week. Farmers raise chilli seedlings in the greenhouse at this time and transplant them when the weather becomes warmer.
Bended metal frames and ripped plastic, the greenhouses gave way under the weight of heavy snow. And it looks like farmers will not be able to produce and sell chillies this time.
Gasa recorded 50 cm of snow. It was the heaviest snow in recent times. And greenhouses are not built to withstand the weight of snow. But farmers were able to collect the vegetables that they were growing during the incident.
There are about 170 households in these two gewogs and almost every household has a greenhouse. Greenhouses were supplied since 2017 with farmers paying 20 per cent of the cost.
Some of the greenhouses cost as high as Nu 70,000 each. The greenhouses were supplied with financial support from the government and JICA.
Agriculture officials said they can repair the metal frames but not torn plastics. People said it is still snowing in Gasa. And officials are not able to assess the extent of the damage.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
