Despite the drop in exchange value of the US dollar, the citrus mandarin or orange export business in Phuentsholing is still a success story so far. The price of orange has not dropped below last year’s highest, US$ 9 average price for the two kinds of orange (keel and mill) since exports began on December 12, 2007. On Thursday, traders were selling the keel for US$ 13 a box and US$ 15 for the medium size orange (mill). The price dropped by three dollars on January 11.

“Had it not been for the drop in the value of the dollar, we’d have made a huge profit margin this year,” said Langa Dorji, proprietor of Pinnga Export. The drop in the price, according to exporters, is due to increase in the supply. However, exporters are optimistic of a rise at the end of the season.

Kuenphen Export exports a maximum of six truckloads of oranges to Bangladesh every day. The oranges come from as far as Tokorong in Trashigang, Samdrup Jongkhar and Sarpang.

Meanwhile, the orange export season, whether profitable or not, is always welcomed by a huge group of workers involved throughout the export season. Its a season for students on holiday, farmers free from field work and Indian labourers across the border to earn some hard cash.

Karna Bahadur Rai, 16, a class 8 student from Dorokha, has been transporting oranges on his back since his school closed for the winter vacation. Carrying a pon (80 numbers) of oranges on his back, he makes two trips a week, earning Nu 420. Phul Mati, a class ten graduate, packs oranges for Pinnga Exports. On an average, she finishes 50 boxes a night earning Nu 250. “The job is hard for a first timer like me, but the money is good,” she said. “It’ll help me as I look for a job.”

Exporters said an orange packer takes home a minimum of Nu 15,000 every orange season. There are ten students, seven girls and three boys, excluding Phul Maya, working in the same depot.

Aap Pulo, 34, from Jabana in Haa with his three horses makes a trip to the orange depot from Pachu seven days a week. For every trip, he earns about Nu 600. At the end of the season, he easily pockets about Nu 60,000. “Most of it goes to my children’s education,” he said.

Small eateries, doma sellers, and tea-shops line the banks of Toorsa river as the orange export season reaches its climax.