𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐡𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬

…𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔

By Tenzin Syelden Dorji

The market shed constructed at Suntalakha Chewog was inaugurated on December 23, 2025, and has since been benefiting residents of Geling Gewog and neighbouring Gewogs by improving access to markets for local agricultural and livestock products. Farmers from Geling Gewog under Chukha Dzongkhag, along with those from nearby Gewogs including Phuentsholing, Metakha, Dungna, and Lochena, are now able to sell their produce through a more accessible and organised outlet.

The initiative aims to boost local economies, promote sustainable commercialisation, encourage crop and livestock diversification, and increase the consumption of locally produced goods. By improving market access, the facility has helped reduce post harvest losses and enhance the value of agricultural and livestock products.

Strategically located along the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway, the market shed serves as a convenient point for commuters, travellers, and local residents to purchase fresh and locally sourced produce. Designed with a modern and spacious layout, the facility provides an organised environment for vendors to display and sell their products, strengthening the linkage between rural producers and consumers.

Kinley Dorji, the Gup of Geling Gewog, said that the primary objective of establishing the market shed was to strengthen rural livelihoods and promote locally produced agricultural and livestock products.

“The main idea of establishing this market is mainly to strengthen rural livelihoods and promote locally produced agricultural and livestock products. The shed provides an attractive and organised environment for vendors to display and sell their products, it also focuses on enhancing linkage between the rural producers and consumers,” he said.
He further added that the location of the market along the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway made it accessible to travellers and commuters.

“Moreover, with the market being established along the Thimphu-Phuentsholing Highway, it would offer a convenient outlet for commuters, travellers and local residents to purchase fresh, local produce that is designed with a modern and spacious layout,” he said.

According to the Department of Tourism, the department invested in the project to promote better roadside amenities and enhance the experience of travellers and tourists stopping along the highway.

Birkha Bdr Rai, the Gup of Phuentsholing Gewog, said farmers from Chongeykha Dophulakha Chewog under Phuentsholing Gewog are direct beneficiaries of the market structure at the Suntalakha vegetable outlet.
“The farmers of Chongeykha Dophulakha Chewog under Phuentsholing Gewog are the direct beneficiaries of the market structure at the Suntalakha vegetable outlet, as it is the nearest and most accessible marketing point for their agricultural produce,” he said.

“For many years, farmers have been selling their vegetables at Suntalakha, making it an established and reliable market link for the community. With the construction of the new outlet sheds, farmers are further encouraged to increase production and participate actively in commercial farming, as the improved facilities provide better space, shelter, and convenience for marketing their products,” he added.

He said the new structure is expected to enhance farmers’ income opportunities and strengthen the local agricultural value chain. Farmers from Chongeykha Dophulakha Chewog travel approximately 20 to 25 kilometres daily to sell their produce.

Local vendors have also reported significant improvements in their livelihoods since the establishment of the market shed. Dawa Dem, a shopkeeper from Geling Gewog, said the facility had created a new source of income for her family.
“This market has benefitted me a lot since I had nothing to do before and now I earn my living by selling organic fruits and vegetables,” she said.

“Before this I had been studying and helping my parents take care of the animals and farming. Before I took over this stall, our family would buy essential groceries on credit and now that I took over a stall we stopped taking groceries on credit,” she said.

She added that her family sells local products grown in their garden and those available within the Gewog, and that she plans to expand her farm to produce more organic goods.

Sonam Zangmo, another shopkeeper from Geling Gewog, shared a similar experience, saying the market shed had provided her with a stable source of income.

“Since I have not had any work before this shed however, with this new shed I have been benefitted tremendously being able to sell my produce,” she said.

“Earlier, after finishing my studies I would help my parents with cattle and farming. Since I did not earn more through it, I started working in a hotel earning Ngultrum (Nu) 8000 a month which was not enough to help my parents and my family,” she said.

“Now that I have started working in this shed selling produce, I have been earning enough for our family and even more sometimes,” she added.

The market shed was funded by the Department of Tourism to support national and local development priorities under the 13th Five Year Plan. The facility was constructed with a total budget of Nu. 4.7 million, including the construction of boundary walls and a parking area. It is monitored by the Dzongkhag and Gewog administrations, along with the Tourism Council of Bhutan.