During the pandemic period, suspension of passenger buses causes hardship to the growers of oranges and other fruits in Chin State. The profitability in selling their products depends much upon the number of passengers.
“The people from Sozan village in Tiddim township are growing oranges and other fruits on a manageable scale. The fruits sold well to the tourists last year. However, the local growers are now facing difficulty this year. Despite abundant yield in this season, there were fewer tourists during the pandemic period,” said Chin Mountain oranges and other crops’ growers.
“Last year, the roads were closed in Kale and Tiddim town because of COVID-19 starting from the end of March. Till now, the passenger buses are suspended. So, only one or two trucks loaded with cargo are running daily. The oranges are not selling well like in previous months. The regular customers are also demanding less number of oranges,” said U Paung Chan Mon, a local farmer from Sozan village on Kale-Tiddim Road.
He added that last year growers sold a 10-piece bag of oranges for K3,000 and earned around K70,000 daily. Now, one bag of oranges is sold for K1,500 in the COVID-19 period, and it is hard to make K10,000 per day. The seasonal fruits from Sozan and other villages are sold mainly to the tourists and sent to Kale and Tamu towns.
Last year, the oranges were sold to the tourists visiting the heart-shaped Reed Lake on the India-Myanmar border and the Chin ethnic visitors. — Chindwinthar/GNLM
