For many farmers in Changray village under Dragteng Gewog in Trongsa, chilli cultivation is an important source of income. Farmers earn not only from selling chillies but also from chilli saplings, which they supply to farmers in nearby areas. Every year, farmers begin raising chilli saplings well ahead of the planting season. This year, due to the hailstorm, sapling and chilli couldn’t make good income for us,” said Phuntsho, a farmer. Farmers say they cultivate chilli saplings on a large scale every year because of the strong market demand.