SARBHANG

Blame it on climate change or an outbreak of the huanglongbing disease, but this year the export of mandarin to Bangladesh or India is not up to the mark or expectation as compared to the 2008-2009 season. Barely 1,000 trucks have been sent to India and Bangladesh so far, traders say, and business is tardy.

The year 2008-2009 saw record exports of mandarin: 23,198.08 metric tonnes (mt) were exported to Bangladesh while for India the figure was 4,296.471 mt, taking the total to 27,496.55 mt.

In fact, barring 2006, mandarin exports have been steadily increasing since 2001. But the season this year may not be so fruitful, traders feel, because of a drop in production.

The total mandarin exported till November 28 to Bangladesh has been only 579.743 mt, while to India it is 72.868 mt.

Mandarin export for this season officially began from November 15 and will continue till mid March next year.

In a telephonic interview with BHUTAN TODAY, Galey Nima, President of Export Association said: “Last year, the export was very good but this year it is not up to the expectations. Production has been hit, may be due to an outbreak of huanglongbing or due to early fruiting. This year, there was 40 to 50 per cent decrease in production. With the Bangladeshi government reducing the import duty tax on 18 Bhutanese products from 50 per cent to 15 per cent, the mandarin export next year could have been very profitable.”

But that is perhaps not to be, it seems now.

He further added: “Last year, mandarin yield was very good. Besides, with kind support from the Ministry of Agriculture, and with the Agriculture Marketing Services sponsoring farmers and exporters for a marketing tour to Bangladesh, we had managed to exploit 38 new importers, making a total of almost 60 plus importers. This had generated competition amongst them, fetching us higher prices.”

Areas under mandarin plantation had seen a hailstorm and other natural events this year during the flowering season, leading to a fall in production, growers from the mandarin growing areas.

However, despite the export glut, the available mandarin in the market is fetching good prices. In Thimphu one mandarin is selling for Nu 5, whereas last year the farmers sold two fruits for the same price.

Beside India and Bangladesh, Bhutan does not export mandarin to any other country as of now due to lack of transport infrastructure, but the Export Association is in the process of negotiating with other countries, officials said.

Chhukha, Samtse, Tsirang, Sarpang, Dagana, Pemagatshel, Samdrup Jongkhar, Zhemgang, Mongar are the prime mandarin producing districts, but the Sarpang products are the best in the country.

Last year, the total number of exporters who took part in the trade was around 30, but this year the number has increased to 34.

The exporters are looking forward to the next season to begin and hope to make good profit.

India has its own mandarin plantations in northern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Jammu & Kashmir. Nepal too exports mandarin to India. But the Bangladesh market depends entirely on Bhutan’s mandarin, as the latter is the nearest exporting country.

By Chencho Dema in Thimphu in Bhutan Today

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