𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐆𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐠, 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬

…𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔’ 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝑨𝒎𝒊𝒅 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

By Kezang Choden

Farmers in Chali Gewog, Mongar Dzongkhag, are grappling with a sharp decline in avocado prices, a trend that is raising serious concerns about their livelihoods. This year, the price of avocados has plummeted to between Nu 130 and Nu 150 per kilogram, a stark contrast to last year’s rate of Nu 250 per kilogram. The dramatic drop has left many farmers frustrated, particularly as they had expanded avocado cultivation, converting fields previously used for maize in the hope of securing better profits.

The price drop is largely attributed to an oversupply of avocados, with more villagers in Chali and other Dzongkhags turning to avocado farming. This rapid expansion has resulted in a market surplus, driving prices down and leaving many farmers facing financial uncertainty.

Tashi Dendup, Gup of Chali Gewog, highlighted the growing issue of oversupply in the local market. “Farmers in other Dzongkhags have also started planting avocados, and some have already begun selling their produce,” he explained. While the cultivation of avocados has brought new opportunities for farmers, it has also led to challenges. The flood of avocados in the market has caused a severe imbalance between supply and demand, putting significant downward pressure on prices.

Adding to the farmers’ woes is the emergence of plant diseases affecting avocado trees. Many growers have reported that some of their avocado plants have begun dying, further reducing their chances of recovering from the price drop. These diseases have been particularly devastating for farmers who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Lobzang, the Agriculture Extension Officer in Chali Gewog, acknowledged the current difficulties. “The prices have dropped because more people are growing avocados,” he said. While the demand for avocados remains strong, the sheer volume of production has saturated the market. Lobzang noted that the Agriculture Extension Division has been actively supporting farmers by providing avocado saplings and offering training on improved agricultural practices.

However, despite these efforts, the surplus of avocados has created challenges that the farmers alone cannot address.
For many farmers, the declining avocado prices have resulted in significant financial strain. Tsheringla, a farmer who has been cultivating avocados for over three years, expressed his frustration over the current situation. With 105 avocado trees, his family relies heavily on the fruit for their livelihood. However, with prices falling to as low as Nu. 130 per kilogram, he fears for their financial future. “We planted avocados in most of our fields, expecting a stable income. But with the prices dropping, we’re facing a lot of uncertainty,” he said.

Tsheringla also raised concerns about the lack of demand, noting that some of his avocados have gone unsold. The economic pressure on farmers like him is immense, and he urged the government to step in and provide assistance. “If the government could provide measures to stabilize prices or offer support to farmers, it would make a huge difference,” he emphasized.

Jampel Tshering, another farmer from Chali Gewog who has been selling avocados for over seven years, shared similar concerns. In the early years, he enjoyed high prices and a good yield, selling avocados for Nu. 250 per kilogram. But now, with prices nearly halved, he finds it increasingly difficult to justify his investment in avocado farming. “If this situation continues, many farmers will lose interest in agriculture,” he said, warning that farmers might abandon avocado cultivation altogether if market conditions do not improve.

The rising concerns among farmers have sparked calls for government intervention to stabilize the avocado market and protect the livelihoods of those who depend on it. Tashi Dendup believes that the government must take action to address the oversupply issue and help farmers find alternative markets. “If the government can implement initiatives to help these farmers, it will stabilize their earnings and sustain the growing cash crop sector,” he said.

Farmers in Chali Gewog are hopeful that with proper government support, they can continue growing avocados without the fear of financial instability. One potential solution, according to agriculture experts, is the creation of better market linkages, which would allow farmers to access more lucrative markets outside Bhutan. Additionally, the introduction of price stabilization measures could help protect farmers from drastic price fluctuations caused by market saturation.

While many farmers are struggling with low prices, a few have managed to secure slightly better returns by taking a direct-to-market approach. Instead of relying on middlemen, these farmers harvest their avocados and transport them directly to town markets, where they can command higher prices for their produce. Although the overall market conditions remain unfavourable, this approach has allowed some farmers to earn a modest income in the midst of the avocado price slump.

However, the success of this strategy is limited, as it requires significant time and effort. Farmers must transport their produce over long distances, often at great personal expense. As a result, while direct-to-market sales offer a short-term solution, they are not viable for all farmers, particularly those with large harvests and limited resources.

As avocado farming continues to expand across Bhutan, the long-term sustainability of the industry will depend on a balance between supply and demand. Without proper market interventions and support for farmers, the oversupply issue could persist, leading to further price drops and economic difficulties for farmers.

The current situation in Chali Gewog is a stark reminder of the volatility of agricultural markets and the challenges faced by rural farmers. Despite the potential for avocados to become a major cash crop in Bhutan, the recent price slump has left many questioning the viability of the industry. If left unchecked, the oversupply issue could lead to a broader crisis in Bhutan’s agricultural sector, particularly for farmers who rely on cash crops like avocados for their livelihoods.

In the meantime, farmers like Tsheringla and Jampel Tshering are hoping for government action to stabilize the market and protect their future in avocado farming. As more Dzongkhags join the avocado-growing trend, the need for strategic interventions becomes increasingly urgent. Without these measures, Bhutan’s avocado industry risks becoming yet another example of an agricultural boom gone bust.