Besides the surplus produces (dried chili), the group has previously marketed 1.3MT of green chili and earned an income of Nu. 384,000 from the sale this year.

With the promising income-generating opportunities amid the COVID 19 Pandemic, Pemathang Tshesay Detshen constituting of 6 members (1 female and 5 male) began mass cultivation of chili at Pemathang gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar In 2019. Under the vegetable intensification program, the group received support for production inputs such as seed, mulching plastics, green net, efficient irrigation materials such as drip and sprinklers, and greenhouses and low-cost polyhouse from CARLEP-IFAD on a cost-sharing basis. The group is technically assissted by Dzongkhag agriculture sector.

As there have been good returns from chili, the group has expanded their area of chili cultivation from 2 to 15 acres and will be expanding their markets to other Dzongkhags therewith increasing self-sufficiency and reducing imports.