The newly established farm shop at Sagteng in Trashigang benefits the local community immensely. However, quite often, the shop is faced with shortage of rice as more customers rush to get their share when the stock arrives.
The farm shop was established some four months ago.
Locals gather at the farm shop as early as 8 AM to buy rice every time the shop is replenished with new supplies of rice.
When BBS visited the shop, there were 27 bags of rice available. However, over 150 locals turned up.
The shortage, according to the locals is not new. “It has been four months since the shop was established and the shortage of rice happens quite often,” said a villager, Yeshi Dorji.
Locals attribute the shortage to stockpiling of rice to use it while migrating with their cattle. “People have enough stock at home. Still then, they buy in advance to use it during migration.”
The staff at the farm shop said they face difficulty when such a situation arises.
Earlier this month, similar incident occurred where the shop’s door was broken when people rushed to buy rice.
According to the shop’s Sales Executive, Yeshi Jamtsho, they try to fill up the stock whenever it is sold out. However road construction has hampered them. “Without a proper way, the situation might remain like this, as we cannot explore any other way.”
With limited supplies and more buyers, the shop does a lucky draw. And if you are lucky, you get a rice.
There are over ten shops at Sagteng. But they do not sell rice. It is only the farm shop where locals can get the rice. A 50 kilogram bag of rice cost Nu 1,400 at the farm shop.
As of now, the farm shop has sold over Nu 1 million worth of commodities.
