With the onset of the vegetable season and the difficulties foreseen in the export of vegetables due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Agriculture Ministry has temporarily restricted the import of commonly grown fruits and vegetables but with some exception.
The measures come as to not waste huge quantities of locally grown fruits and vegetables.
According to the Minister for agriculture and forests, the temporary restriction will be on import of commonly grown fruits and vegetables except for onion, tomato, bitter gourd, okra, apple, banana, pineapple, mango, orange and pomegranate.
“When the situation is normal, whatever is not consumed domestically we export it. But now because of COVID-19 at this juncture, both export and import are quite difficult in logistics. So for that reason, it is important to ease out the market for our farm produce,” said Yeshey Penjor, the Agriculture and Forests Minister.
Before initiating the restriction, the ministry also consulted with the vendors of Centenary Farmer’s Market (CFM) in Thimphu as the market has a huge number of importers.
Lyonpo said the list of vegetable and fruits that will be allowed or restricted is actually received from the wholesale dealers of the CFM as their proposal.
Lyonpo also highlighted that there is a lack of communication whereby some places have excess of produces and some have a shortage. And a vegetable management team was also formed in the ministry to study about the market demand and supply of the farm produce. The ministry will soon launch a mobile app on vegetable management and distribution.
Lyonpo said the restriction on import of vegetable will balance the supply and demand in the market. “We will restrict the import of whatever demand our local produce could meet, and the supply that could not keep up with the demand will be allowed as supplementary supply from import,” Lyonpo added.
The Minister also urged that to benefit both the seller and the consumer, prices should be reasonable. If the price is unreasonable, the consumer needs to call the Office of the Consumer Protection under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Tshering Zam
