Green tea plantation is becoming a lucrative business for the people of Samcholing in Draagteng Gewog of Trongsa. And, as it expands, farmers are expecting a swift payment system for their harvest. Today, they are paid only after the product is sold.
Currently, Samcholing green tea cooperative is running the business with 28 members. They say the yield is increasing annually. Every harvest season, each member is able to produce at least 20 packets of green tea. A packet of the tea is sold for Nu 150.
“We get our payment only if our product is sold immediately. If not, we have to wait. So when this happens, we are discouraged to continue with the plantation. When we are not paid on time, hiring helpers to plant or do weeding becomes a challenge. We have to pay them a wage of Nu 500 per person,” Pema Lhamo, one of the members of Samcholing Green Tea Cooperative, said.
According to the sales executive for the group, the payment depends on the sale. The executive is selected from within the group members for a term of two years.
To resolve the issue, the members are proposing the gewog or dzongkhag administrations to provide an imprest fund to pay the members. The amount, farmers say, can be reimbursed after the sale. However, according to the gewog administration, the cooperative has sufficient fund to manage such issues and it will be resolved soon.
In the meantime, with growing demand and better support, the group is already into improving its product.
“Before, we used to sell directly packaged green tea. But now, with support from the government, our tea is available in tea bags as well,” Rinchen Dema, the Sales Executive of the group.said.
There are also other plans to explore and expand the green tea plantation in Samcholing in the next fiscal year.
Passang
