‘Orongpa solo’, chillies from Menchhari village under Orong Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar are in high demand amid the pandemic and border closures. Farmers in the village are earning double the amount from selling the spice, this year. The Orongpa solo is one of the main sources of income for the farmers there.
From Nu 150 a kilogram last year, farmers are fetching Nu 300 for the chilli this year.
According to Tshewang Rinzin, a farmer in the village, the chilli has been their main source of income for centuries. He says all the 20 households in the village cultivate chillis during March and by August they use to harvest and sell it. And the huge demand and the handsome reward keep him smiling.
“Even before the nationwide lockdown, we have been selling the chillies at Nu 300 a kilogram in Dewathang. This is a good price. And during the lockdown, the vegetable group out here helped us to transport our chillis to market, they sell at Nu 350 and we got Nu 300,” he said.
“I think our chillies are in high demand because of the restrictions on movement across the borders due to the pandemic. Last year, I got Nu 15,000 from selling chillies and this year till now I have earned Nu 20,000 and still, I have some more chillies to sell,” added Lungten Dema, a farmer in Orong Gewog.
However the heavy rainfall this year has affected some of the farmers in the village, they say most of the chillies were damaged with production not up to their expectation.
“The price is good this time, we got Nu 300 a kilogram but this year’s production is not as expected, Last year I earned Nu 50,000 by selling at Nu 150 a kilo but this year even after selling at Nu 300, I could earn only Nu 40,000 because most of the chilli plants are damaged by the heavy rain,” said Changlupai, a farmer in Orong.
“The yield of chilli is not good this year compared to last year, heavy rain has damaged it but we are fetching a good price,” added Dawa Zangmo, also a farmer from the same village.
At this time of the year, the Orongpa solo is seen in most of the shops in Dewathang and Samdrup Jongkhar town.
Kinley Wangchuk
