As exporters and farmers gear up for yet another busy mandarin (orange) season, there is optimism in the air for a good business year.

Despite the scare from the global financial crisis, officials from the Bhutan export association said that more importers have shown interest this year. “About 25 importers, some from as far as Chittagong, Bangladesh, will compete and that is good,” said the finance and trade officer of the association, Tshering Yeshey.

Last year, only about 14 importers from Dhaka, Rangpur, and Bangra came to buy Bhutanese orange.

The floor price of mandarin was fixed at US$ 7 for kill (small) and US$ 9 for mill (big) per box, which is a dollar higher than last year. For exporters, the high exchange rate could also come as an added advantage. But officials said that importers would not offer much when the dollar appreciates too much.

The export of mandarin will begin soon and the banks of Toorsa river has become busy with workers setting up temporary sheds. Although farmers have not started bringing the fruit to the yards, exporters are expecting about a 10 percent increase in production this year. “The yield is better this year,” said a contractor, who had surveyed some orchards as far as Pangbang in Zhemgang.

Orchard owners in Pasakha are also optimistic of a good year. “Yield had been dropping for the last three years, but this year looks good,” said a farmer. Along the Phuentsholing-Thimphu highway, oranges are available for Nu 35 to Nu 50 a dozen.