The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Consumers across Bhutan are raising concerns over the exorbitant prices of imported chillies from India, which closely resemble the locally grown varieties. Vendors, especially in the Kaja Throm, in Thimphu have been marketing these chillies as premium local produce, misleading buyers into paying higher prices for what they believe to be homegrown products.
During winter, Bhutanese markets are flooded with chillies imported from Falakata in West Bengal. In the past these chillies could be easily distinguished due to inferior color, texture and taste, but in recent times it seems some enterprising traders have taken the seeds of Bhutanese chillies and started growing it in an and around Falakata.
As a result, these new hybrid chillies are indistinguishable from local Bhutanese varieties and are being sold at inflated prices by claiming them to be local chillies. Some vendors claim they are organically grown in warmer districts like Baylangdra, Wangduephodrang, and Tsirang, charging between Nu 230 to Nu 250 per kilogram.
This misrepresentation has left many consumers feeling deceived. The stark price contrast between genuine local produce and imports raises serious concerns about transparency in pricing and product labeling. While imported vegetables are usually cheaper, these Indian-grown chillies are being marketed at the same high rates as Bhutanese-grown ones, creating confusion in the marketplace.
In fact, some vegetable vendors, themselves, are unsure about the authenticity of the products they are selling. Imported vegetables, including chillies, tomatoes, and beans, have long been a part of Bhutan’s market. However, their increasing visual similarity to local produce often makes it difficult for consumers to distinguish between the two.
It is not just chillies as even the seeds of high end Bhutanese tomatoes have also been taken to Falakata and grown there resembling Bhutanese tomatoes. Honest vendors admit that the tomatoes are Indian and charge around Nu 50 per kg but there are many vendors who falsely claim these to be ‘local tomatoes’ and sell them for Nu 120 to Nu 150 per kg.
An elderly lady vendor said, “I sell my tomatoes for Nu 50 per kg but many others lie and say it is local and organic and sell it for three times the price. There is no ‘local tomatoes’ at this time of the year.”
The same is happening in the case of string beans imported from India which is falsely tagged as being from Tsirang. Here again, the whistle blowers are some vegetable vendors who feel bad seeing customers getting cheated.
The main violators of the organic and local tag are the vendors who are upstairs in the supposed organic and local section of Kaja Throm and the whistle blowers are the often the vendors downstairs fed up with the unethical practices of the vendors upstairs touting cheaper imported products as expensive local ones.
In the past the same was done with imported Indian apples that were sold upstairs as ‘local apples.
One vendor said, “I cannot always tell where these chillies are from. They look exactly like the local ones, but they might have come from India. It is hard to keep track.” Another vendor added, “We try to sell local produce, but the imported ones look so perfect and often sell for lesser. The customers tend to go for the cheaper options, even though I know the local ones are healthier.”
Consumers are also voicing their frustration. “I always buy the cheaper vegetables because I cannot afford the expensive ones. But I do not know if they are safe,” said one shopper. This highlights the struggle between affordability and health concerns, as imported vegetables are often treated with pesticides to extend their shelf life. Past tests of chillies from Falakata had shown high pesticides and were even banned for a while.
Local farmers, who rely on organic and sustainable farming methods, are finding it increasingly difficult to compete. Organic farming comes at a higher cost, which is reflected in the price of local produce. However, the lack of regulation on pricing for imported chillies undermines their efforts, placing them at an economic disadvantage.
Experts warn that while the flawless appearance of these imported vegetables may be appealing, the pesticides used in their cultivation pose potential health risks if consumed regularly. In contrast, Bhutanese-grown vegetables which are occasionally less uniform—are generally free from these chemicals or have much lesser of them, providing a safer and healthier alternative.
For Bhutanese farmers, who pride themselves on using sustainable and organic farming practices, this price gap presents a serious challenge. Growing produce without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides is often more expensive, and these costs are inevitably passed on to the consumer.
“It’s difficult,” said a local farmer from Thimphu. “Our methods are organic, but it costs us more. The imported vegetables might look perfect, but I cannot compete with that price. I just hope people start appreciating what we do here.”
Transparency in the market is needed to help buyers make informed decisions, while local farmers need greater support to remain competitive.
A Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) said it is aware that some imported vegetables are treated with chemicals, such as pesticides and preservatives, to enhance their appearance and shelf life. To prevent health risks from these chemicals, BFDA said it conducts regular inspections and testing of imported vegetables. Random samples are tested for pesticide residues to ensure that they comply with Bhutan’s safety standards. If any batch of imported vegetables exceeds the permissible limits of chemical residues, it is rejected, and the importer may face penalties.
BFDA said it also requires that all imported products, including vegetables, be certified by the importer to meet local food safety standards. The agency works in collaboration with other authorities to ensure that these imported vegetables are safe for consumption. However, despite these precautions, there is always the potential risk of harmful chemicals in produce, and BFDA said it strives to minimize these risks through ongoing regulation and monitoring.
However, in the meantime consumers and concerned vendors feel that it is high time that responsible authorities should better monitor what is local and imported so that consumers are not cheated on the price and more importantly their health is not compromised. There is also doubt if imported chillies are even being tested regularly as officials do not seem to be aware that they are being sold as local chillies.
