𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐭𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

…“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆,”

By Kezang Choden

In an important step toward supporting local agriculture and reducing reliance on imported vegetables, the Aggregator Network of Samtse has launched a new local produce outlet in Samtse Town. The market provides farmers from the region’s 15 gewogs with a dedicated space to sell their fresh, organic vegetables directly to consumers. This initiative seeks to improve farmer incomes, promote organic farming, and reduce Bhutan’s dependency on foreign imports.

For years, farmers in Samtse have faced challenges in accessing consistent markets, often relying on middlemen or selling to distant towns, which negatively impacted their income and growth opportunities. The new outlet aims to eliminate these barriers by providing a stable platform where farmers can control the pricing and sales of their products without the need for intermediaries.

“The opening of this outlet gives local farmers a reliable place to sell their produce, allowing them to earn a more stable income,” said Narayan Kumar Acharja, Assistant Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer for Samtse. “This will reduce losses due to fluctuating markets and seasonal overproduction, while also encouraging farmers to expand their agricultural fields.”

The market’s mission is to directly link local farmers with consumers, helping to bypass the competition from cheaper imported goods that have traditionally dominated Bhutan’s vegetable markets. Nrayan Kumar Acharja further emphasized that the initiative aligns with Bhutan’s national goals of agricultural self-sufficiency and organic farming practices.

In addition to promoting local produce, the outlet stresses on the national objective of advancing organic agriculture, which is seen as both a healthier and more environmentally sustainable alternative. “Our goal is to reduce dependency on imports by making local organic vegetables more accessible to the public while ensuring fair returns for farmers,” said Sangay Thinley, head of Agricultural Marketing Facilitation from the Phuentsholing region. He noted that the outlet’s pricing structure accounts for transportation costs, ensuring affordability for consumers and profitability for farmers.

Sangay Thinley also emphasized the importance of inspiring younger generations to take up farming as a viable career path. “Farming is often seen as difficult and unprofitable, but with the right support and access to markets, we hope to show youth that it can be a rewarding livelihood,” he added. This outlet in Samtse is just the first in a series of markets planned across Bhutan, with similar outlets expected in Thimphu and other dzongkhags, creating more opportunities for local farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers.

The opening of the Samtse outlet has already generated excitement among local farmers. Godak Singh, the operator of the market, shared that farmers have responded positively to the opportunity. “We’ve seen a steady increase in the amount of produce being brought to the market,” he said.

He added, “Farmers are happy because they now have a reliable place to sell their vegetables, and they’re earning a good income. Customers are also pleased with the availability of fresh, organic produce at reasonable prices.”
In addition to serving local consumers, the market is expected to supply fresh vegetables to the Jamtsholing Gyalsung Project, a national initiative that promotes youth involvement in agriculture. “The Gyalsung Project will be one of our key customers, and any remaining produce will continue to be sold at the market for local residents,” Godak Singh explained. This partnership is expected to further stimulate agricultural activities in the region, providing farmers with a growing and stable demand for their crops.

One of the primary objectives of the new outlet is to reduce Bhutan’s reliance on imported vegetables. Over the years, Bhutan has imported large quantities of vegetables from neighboring countries, which has not only affected local farming but also increased the country’s vulnerability to supply chain disruptions and environmental impacts. With the opening of the Samtse market, the focus has shifted toward self-sufficiency.

The outlet represents a critical step toward Bhutan’s goal of achieving self-reliance in vegetable production while supporting the government’s vision for organic farming. As Bhutan continues to move away from imported goods, this local outlet is seen as a key player in reducing the environmental footprint associated with transporting vegetables from other countries.

In addition to meeting immediate market needs, the local outlet is expected to bring long-term benefits to the Samtse community. “We hope this initiative will encourage more people to grow vegetables and increase local production,” said Narayan Kumar Acharja. “Our goal is to inspire the youth to see farming as a real opportunity for generating income.” With a stable market in place, local farmers are expected to invest more in expanding their fields, knowing that there is a consistent demand for their produce.

The outlet will also prevent waste by ensuring that vegetables grown in the region do not go unsold, as farmers now have a dependable platform for marketing their goods. This is particularly important during peak harvest seasons, where excess production can often lead to unsold produce and financial losses for farmers.

While the opening of the market is a significant step forward, managing a local produce outlet comes with its own set of challenges. The market must coordinate a steady supply of vegetables, maintain fair pricing, and ensure consistent quality to meet the expectations of consumers. Singh acknowledged these hurdles but remains optimistic about the outlet’s potential to transform the local agricultural economy.

Despite the operational challenges, the response from both farmers and customers has been overwhelmingly positive. Farmers are excited about the opportunity to sell their products locally, and the community has welcomed the availability of affordable, fresh organic vegetables.

The launch of the outlet also coincides with a rising demand for organic food as consumers increasingly prioritize health and sustainability. “Organic vegetables are beneficial not only for personal health but also for the environment,” said Sangay Thinley. “By promoting organic farming, we are contributing to the well-being of the entire community and helping to protect Bhutan’s natural resources.”

Alongside the market, the Aggregator Network of Samtse has also opened an office at the Damdum Startup Centre. This office will serve as a hub for coordinating agricultural marketing efforts and as a meeting point for aggregators from different gewogs. After months of planning, both the market and the office are now fully operational, with the community eager to see the positive impact these facilities will have on local agriculture.

The Aggregator Network of Samtse is committed to improving the livelihoods of farmers by expanding market opportunities and supporting agricultural growth. As the network grows, it aims to enhance the availability of fresh, organic produce across the region and contribute to Bhutan’s long-term goal of agricultural self-sufficiency. The market started operating on September 4, 2024.