Orange season in the country is almost over, but orange growers in Zhemgang are not very happy. They are disappointed with the price they are fetching this time, which is much lower compared to that of the past year.
Farmers in Trong are harvesting the last of their oranges. And while the fruits look ripe and juicy, their moods have been soured by the price it is fetching this season.
According to the growers, the amount they are getting from selling their oranges has gone down to about half of last year’s price.
“Orange price this time has gone down. The larger ones fetch about Nu 800 per crate and the smaller ones get only 600. I am taking the oranges to Gelephu and I’ll have to sell them at lower rates otherwise they may rot,” said Phuntsho, an orange grower from Gongphu in Trong Gewog.
“Earlier, for bigger ones, we got about 1200-1300 ngultrum per crate and for the smaller ones we got around 800,” said Sonam Wangchuk from Wangduegang in Trong. “But this time, the price isn’t very good. We are getting only Nu 800 for the larger ones.”
Orange exporters say the price has gone down due to the reduced demand from Bangladesh because of the ongoing dollar crisis.
And it’s the same in the lower part of Zhemgang which produced two third of the total orange production last year.
But because of the proximity to the Indian border, the orange growers of Goshing, are earning slightly better than their counterparts in the north of the district.
“We are taking our oranges to the neighbouring Indian state of Assam. We take most of the fruits there,” said Zangpo from Lamtang in Goshing Gewog.
“The price we are getting is not very high. Last year, we got around Nu 1500 from each box, but now we’re getting only around 600-800,” said Tashi Wangchuk, who is also from Lamtang.
“We solely depend on this cash crop because through this business, we have to pay for our children’s education, take care of our expenses, and repay the loans as well,” said Pema Samten.
Meanwhile, according to agriculture officials, the orange yield in the district has been better this year than the year before. However, they have yet to compile the data.
Zhemgang produced about 3,000 tonnes of oranges last year.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
