Shaoulee Food Products

An Enterprise Supporting Farmers and Communities

Pema Lhadon graduated in 2012 and established Shaoulee Food Products in 2013 known as “Shaoulee Food Products (meaning Soy bean) at Babesa, Thimphu with the aim of supporting local farmers. She started her business on a small scale, working from her own kitchen and initially offering three products: tofu, kimchi, and miso. She acquired the necessary skills for these products through National Post Harvest Center, Paro. The most memorable encouragement she got was from Dzongsar Jambyang Khentse Rimpochhe when he stated that the entriprise should promote nutrious vegetrian local produce.

Over the years, Pema diversified her products, and today, Shaoulee Food Products has more than 35 different types of products and consumes or purchase more than 20 cereals, grains and agriculture produce. She supports local farmers across Bhutan by sourcing raw materials directly from rural areas. Reflecting on her experiences, Pema shared, “During the covid pandemic, there was a particular incident that deeply moved me. An elderly couple wanted to sell their wheat, but they couldn’t come themselves and had to send it through their neighbor. Seeing such situations, where farmers can produce their goods but struggle to find a market, fills me with immense empathy for them.”

Then she further added with another incident back in 2014 where the farmers reacted with gratitude toward her for buying their soy beans and that really motivated her. Back then the price of soy bean was very low even with other agriculture produce also. The prices couldn’t even sustain their livehood and henceforth she decided to purchase agriculture produces at reasonable price.

This pricing strategy serves as a vital incentive for farmers to continue cultivating their land, rather than abandoning it in search of more lucrative alternatives. Shaoulee stands as a link between rural urban agricultural economy, and especially socio-economy of the rural population are understood to be critical for a country where rural-to-urban migration and the abandonment of farmlands have become pressing concerns.

Shaoulee’s approach is deeply rooted in the belief that sustainable economic growth can be achieved by supporting local farmers while simultaneously while making urban consumers to have access to high-quality, safe, nutritious food and are domestically grown, processed, and which are also affordable. The enterprise operates with a business model that is simple but transformative.

The enterprise currently processes over 400 tons of local cereal grains annually into flours and grits; it is committed to adopt fair prices both for the agricultural products as well as the processed products. It works closely with over 4,500 farmers from all corners.

Although Pema initially started her business from home with limited financial resources. However, in 2016, she received support from the Loden Foundation, which helped her expand her business. Additionally, the Zhung Dratshang allowed her by providing a lease for the land, enabling her to grow her business further. On the other hand, Department of Agriculture Marketing and Corporative (DAMC) provided her with grants and trainings and workshops from government also help her learned how to manage her business. She is also trained in food and fruit processing and culinary arts from Thailand and Singapore.

In a country where the agricultural land is increasingly underutilized and abandoned, Shaoulee’s efforts to keep farmers on the land and encourage their continued cultivation are crucial. By offering higher prices for grains, Shaoulee is playing a key role in maintaining Bhutan’s agricultural backbone and helping to preserve rural communities. The enterprise is even more concentrated on preservation, promotion and encouragement of indigenous cereals and crops of Bhutan.

Shaoulee’s business model is closely aligned with Bhutan’s national goals of food security and self-sufficiency. Bhutan has long been dependent on imports to meet its food needs. This import dependency has placed significant pressure on the country’s farmers and has led to concerns about the sustainability of the nation’s agricultural systems. Shaoulee’s model directly challenges this trend by promoting the consumption of locally produced products. And with her dream of a self-sufficient Bhutan all her products are sold in the country especially in Thimphu.

Shaoulee is not just creating a local market for agricultural products; it is also fostering pride in Bhutanese-grown food. The company’s focus on sustainable farming practices and locally produced grains helps strengthen the “Brand Bhutan” image. Bhutan’s pristine environment and commitment to sustainability have helped make the country’s agricultural products more attractive to consumers, both locally and internationally.

One of the key social impacts of Shaoulee Food Products is its emphasis on empowering women. Women make up the majority of the workforce at Shaoulee, with nine out of the company’s ten regular employees being women (supported by YELP program). This is a significant achievement in a country where women have historically been underrepresented in the workforce, particularly in sectors like agriculture and food processing.

Despite its many successes, Shaoulee Food Products has not been without its challenges. One of the biggest obstacles the company faces is collection of agricultural produce from the farmers, especially from the rural areas and to meet the market demand of her products. To address this challenge, Shaoulee is planning significant investments in the coming years. The company plans to upgrade its processing facilities and increase its capacity from the current 500 tons to 1,500 tons annually and bring up to more than 15000 farmers in her life.

On the final note, Pema shared her reasons for not moving abroad, stating that she lacks the courage to leave her country and family behind, there’s so much to give back to her country who have made what she is today. She believes that in Bhutan, no one will starve, and it is possible to sustain a livelihood. Pema values and appreciates the principles of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and is more content with what she is doing in Bhutan and She doesn’t feel burdened even when working late hour because she is passionate about her business. The best thing she is grateful is unlike others, situation didn’t compel her to leave the country, and she gets plenty of time with her parents and daughter.

All in all, Shaoulee plans to expand its reach, both in terms of production capacity and market access. The company’s efforts to modernize its facilities, improve product quality, and support farmers will help ensure that Bhutan can continue to meet its food needs sustainably. By empowering women, supporting rural communities, and to make self-sufficient agricultural sector.

Shaoulee Food Products is not just a business—it is a force for positive change in Bhutan. Through its efforts, the company is helping to ensure that future generations will be able to rely on locally produced food, contributing to a sustainable and prosperous future for all Bhutanese.

Never miss our magazine. Subscribe now

Latest Articles

Editor's Pick