March 12: The construction of 13 kilometer farm road from Samdrupchhoeling to Martshala gewog has benefited the farmers of Martshala gewog.

Martshala gewog is some 13 kilometer drive from Samdrupchhoeling Dungkhag in Samdrup Jongkhar. The construction of 13 kilometer farm road from Samdrupchhoeling to Martshala gewog was started in April last year and completed in December. Until then, farmers there hardly ventured to cultivate any cash crops.

With no roads, it was difficult for the farmers to take their farm produce to the market. It took farmers almost two to three days to transport their agricultural products to the nearest auction yard at Phuntshothang. But now farmers have taken up the cultivation of ginger, potatoes and mandarin on a large scale.

Villagers told our reporter Damcho Wangchuk that their income has also improved from the sale of their produce.