With the travel restriction, people of Merag Gewog in Trashigang are struggling in selling dairy products such as butter and fermented cheese. Until this year, highlanders have been selling the products across the border in India.
These days, people are seen storing sacks of butter and fermented cheese in most of the houses.
“We have not been able to sell the butter for around eight to nine months now. More than 15 kilograms of butter are stored in a sack. And without a proper market, it is getting spoiled,” said Wangdi, a resident of Merag gewog.
Moreover, the locals said there is less demand in the local market. And the most potential market for the Merag people is Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh in India.
Recently, with the government’s intervention, a few private individuals from the gewog sold around 10,000 kilograms of fermented cheese to Tawang following the COVID-19 safety protocol. And about 1,500 kilograms of butter were sold in the local market.
Besides such initiative, locals said the concerned authorities should intervene if the pandemic situation doesn’t improve.
“If the pandemic continues further, government, Dzongkhag and gewog should solve our problem,” said Pema Wangda from Merag gewog.
However, the gewog is exploring means to address the problem. “We are still discussing whether to provide financial support to the people,” said Phurpa, Mangmi of Merag gewog.
Meantime, the Regional Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives Office in Monggar is willing to intervene.
Butter and fermented cheese are the main sources of income for the people of Merag.
Sonam Darjay
