As winter vegetables have started hitting the market, farmers are concerned about the closure of the only farmers’ market at Dagapela town in Dagana. Their Sunday vegetable market has been closed for some eight months since March in the wake of the pandemic. As a result, it has been difficult for them to make their ends meet. The farmers want the market to re-open as it provides them with an opportunity to not only display their vegetables but gives people an opportunity to support the local agriculture.
Farmers market are essential activities for the economic livelihood of farmers and for access to food for the people. And for farmers who rely on farmers’ markets for a major portion of their income, a closed market has the potential to bankrupt farmers and force people to go without food.
The otherwise bustling Sunday vegetable market in Dagapela town wears a desolate look today. The vegetable market, which accommodates some hundred farmers has been closed for almost a year now. Farmers residing nearby Dagapela town sell their vegetables and farm products at the market.
“Without a Sunday vegetable market, it is a problem for us since this is the time to sell our vegetables. We can’t take it to Thimphu since many have grown vegetables this year. Farmers have been inquiring us about its re-opening. We have asked the Dzongkhag Administration regarding this matter as we have seen there are no such restrictions in other districts,” said Hochu Leki, a farmer in Tsenda-Gang Gewog.
“I grew varieties of vegetables which are ready to be sold but it is a problem for us when we don’t have a place to sell. The sale counter at Dagapela town can’t keep all our vegetables since many farmers are taking vegetables to the sale counter. As a result, we are losing our vegetables,” said Leki Wangmo, another farmer in the gewog.
Some hoteliers in Dagapela town said it is difficult to get vegetables in absence of the Sunday vegetable market. And due to lack of such a facility, they have to visit villages to get vegetables, which is an extra expense. The same is with the farmers who are forced to go door-to-door to sell their goods.
“In absence of the Sunday vegetable market, we sell vegetables visiting our customers’ houses when they place an order. But most consumers have to buy from shops where they end up paying higher prices which otherwise is sold at a lower price at the Sunday vegetable market,” added Hochu.
“At the moment, I have radish, spinach and onion but I couldn’t sell even once. Some of the fellow farmers say they sell vegetables in hotels and sell door to door. But since I don’t own a car, I couldn’t sell my vegetables,” added Leki.
As Dagapela town falls under Tsenda-Gang Gewog, the Tsenda-Gang Gup said, the gewog office will write to the Dzongkhag Administration regarding the problem in anticipation to re-open the vegetable market.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
