Paddy farmers in Bumthang are struggling to harvest their crops on time because of a shortage of working paddy harvesters. Farmers say frequent machine breakdowns and delays are forcing them to resort to manual harvesting and smaller threshing machines. With crops also at risk from wild animals and rain, they are urging the Farm Machinery Corporation Limited (FMCL) to provide more harvesters during the harvesting season.
For paddy farmers in Jalikhar, Chamkhar and Gongkhar in Bumthang, every passing day brings the risk of losing their crops to wild animals.
The villages received an FMCL paddy harvester a week ago and have since started harvesting. Farmers have also hired a private harvester. However, the two machines are struggling to meet the demand across more than 80 acres of paddy fields.
Dorji, a farmer from Jalikhar, said breakdowns are costing them valuable time. “When it is time to use the machine, we are told that something is not working. As a result, we have to wait one or two days before the machine can be brought to the field. After maintenance, the machine is sent back to the field, but it breaks down again after a few hours. If the machine is properly maintained, it can harvest two to three acres a day.”
Tshering Dhendup, a farmer from Chamkhar, said farmers were initially happy to learn that FMCL had a new harvester. “Most of the farmers were happy thinking FMCL has one new harvester machine. But we heard that it also got damaged. We are confused about why this is happening. For us, we would be thankful if the FMCL office could manage at least two new harvester machines during the season.”
Jangchub Dorji, a farmer from Gongkhar, said the expansion of cultivated land has made the lack of harvesters more difficult for them. “As we have increased the area under cultivation, it is difficult for us when there is no harvester available. Harvesting manually takes time. We have a private harvester, but it was taken to Jalikhar and is still working there. We are worried that rain could damage our crops. With no other option, we have to use a small machine for threshing.”
FMCL’s regional office in Bumthang has two paddy harvesters. However, one was under maintenance, leaving only one available for deployment.
Jurmi Tenzin, Regional Manager, FMCL, Bumthang, explained what happened to the second machine. “Yesterday, we sent our other machine to the field. However, the road was not suitable for the vehicle, so we had to transfer the machine onto a tractor. During the transfer, it sustained minor damage and could not operate without repairs. We immediately tried to obtain the required parts, and we expect to deploy the machine in the field by tomorrow.”
The regional manager said the shortage of harvesters is also linked to the paddy harvesting season coinciding with the harvest period in other districts. He added that if farmers continue to expand cultivation and the shortage persists, he would seek support to arrange an additional machine in the future.
Meanwhile, farmers say continued delays could force them to reduce their cultivated areas, despite their interest in expanding production.
Thinley Dorji, Bumthang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
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