From buckwheat to potatoes to buckwheat again
For the last many decades, Phurba has grown up growing buckwheat, the staple diet of Bumthaps.
The 65-year-old farmer from Gyatsa shifted to cultivating potatoes and he is in pain. With wildlife damaging crops and buckwheat suddenly gaining popularity among the elite in the towns, Phurba is regretting his change in choice of crops.
With most of the farm¬ers harvesting their buckwheat and potatoes, Phurpa has cultivated potatoes in his land and couldn’t cultivate buckwheat.
“As an early riser, it aches to see others harvesting their buckwheat,” said the farmer who claims to have cultivated potatoes only. Phurpa and many farmers like him couldn’t cultivate buckwheat because of the market opportunities and reliance. “Cultivating potatoes brings more income and we can rely on easily available imported rice from the neighboring country,” he said.
More than 600 acres of buckwheat field in four gewogs are used to cultivate potatoes, as the income was double. But this year, more than 800 acres of land are used to grow buckwheat as the demand for buckwheat flour has increased.
“Buckwheat was the staple food for the people of Bumthaaps,” said Tshering Om from Domkhar, Chhumig gewog. Half of her nine-acre land is under buckwheat cultivation. She added that she have heard that buckwheat is gaining popularity among the high class people due to its medicinal value.
“Famers were unable to sell the buckwheat in the past. Buckwheat was considered ‘a poor people’s meal,” said Chhumig Mangmi, Chungdi Tshering.
He added that the farm mechanization has eased the farmers to cultivate potatoes on a commercial scale and the auction yards installed in designated areas have relieved the farmers for marketing the potatoes, but there is a huge demand for buckwheat now.
“Farmers are taking interest in growing buckwheat because of the demand of the buckwheat flour in the market.” He said.
“With time people do realize the nutritional value of buckwheat and also its traditional food cultures in the past,” said the Agriculture Extension of Chhumig gewog, Tshewang Lhamo.
She added that the farmers are taking keen interest in growing buckwheat and most of the fallow lands are already being reclaimed for buckwheat cultivation. “Buckwheat is gaining popularity in the market due to its nutritional value,” she said.
Last year in Chhumig gewogs more 115 acres of land were under buckwheat cultivation and 101 metric tons (MT) of buckwheat was produced.
The dzongkhag agriculture officer Gaylang said that most people sell potato and buy rice, because buckwheat production declined, but from 2009 the dzongkhag have started rehabilitation of buckwheat production.
“In 2009 the area under buckwheat was 604 acres, now we have reached 800 acres and it is increasing due to high demand in the market,” he said.
He added that they have formed groups for both production, marketing and have developed many buckwheat products. “It is very important to maintain crops diversity in field to cope the climate change,” he said.
The dzongkhag is supported by National Biodiversity Center to develop buckwheat products and form farmers group for the conservation and promotional of the local crops.
With most of the farm¬ers harvesting their buckwheat and potatoes, Phurpa has cultivated potatoes in his land and couldn’t cultivate buckwheat.
“As an early riser, it aches to see others harvesting their buckwheat,” said the farmer who claims to have cultivated potatoes only. Phurpa and many farmers like him couldn’t cultivate buckwheat because of the market opportunities and reliance. “Cultivating potatoes brings more income and we can rely on easily available imported rice from the neighboring country,” he said.
More than 600 acres of buckwheat field in four gewogs are used to cultivate potatoes, as the income was double. But this year, more than 800 acres of land are used to grow buckwheat as the demand for buckwheat flour has increased.
“Buckwheat was the staple food for the people of Bumthaaps,” said Tshering Om from Domkhar, Chhumig gewog. Half of her nine-acre land is under buckwheat cultivation. She added that she have heard that buckwheat is gaining popularity among the high class people due to its medicinal value.
“Famers were unable to sell the buckwheat in the past. Buckwheat was considered ‘a poor people’s meal,” said Chhumig Mangmi, Chungdi Tshering.
He added that the farm mechanization has eased the farmers to cultivate potatoes on a commercial scale and the auction yards installed in designated areas have relieved the farmers for marketing the potatoes, but there is a huge demand for buckwheat now.
“Farmers are taking interest in growing buckwheat because of the demand of the buckwheat flour in the market.” He said.
“With time people do realize the nutritional value of buckwheat and also its traditional food cultures in the past,” said the Agriculture Extension of Chhumig gewog, Tshewang Lhamo.
She added that the farmers are taking keen interest in growing buckwheat and most of the fallow lands are already being reclaimed for buckwheat cultivation. “Buckwheat is gaining popularity in the market due to its nutritional value,” she said.
Last year in Chhumig gewogs more 115 acres of land were under buckwheat cultivation and 101 metric tons (MT) of buckwheat was produced.
The dzongkhag agriculture officer Gaylang said that most people sell potato and buy rice, because buckwheat production declined, but from 2009 the dzongkhag have started rehabilitation of buckwheat production.
“In 2009 the area under buckwheat was 604 acres, now we have reached 800 acres and it is increasing due to high demand in the market,” he said.
He added that they have formed groups for both production, marketing and have developed many buckwheat products. “It is very important to maintain crops diversity in field to cope the climate change,” he said.
The dzongkhag is supported by National Biodiversity Center to develop buckwheat products and form farmers group for the conservation and promotional of the local crops.
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