Access to the market has always been a major challenge for farmers or producers in the country. To solve the market issue, experts say that people should now do away with the concept of searching for a market after growing crops. Rather, people should study the market and then “grow to sell”. So, to impart this knowledge and enhance the business alliance, the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives has conducted a two-day Buyers and Sellers meeting in Phuentshogling.
Market access has become an issue as people move from subsistence farming to commercial and semi-commercial farming.
According to agriculture officials, in semi-commercial and commercial farming, farmers cannot grow whatever they want. This is because finding a market for their produce later would be a challenge.
Therefore, officials say that it is important to grow crops in accordance with the demand.
“With changing times, we also need to change accordingly. What we are now advising all the key stakeholders involved in the food system value chain is to be watchful of information, and embrace the information that is available. We have to be mindful of the market information such as what readily goes in the export market, and what is the most demanded commodities in the neighbouring countries. Similarly, what are the preferred commodities in the domestic market as well? Knowing the market demand, if you start growing, then the market challenges will be very little,” said Kinlay Tshering, Director General of DAMC.
The meeting serves as a platform for the producers, buyers, aggregators or middlemen and relevant stakeholders to interact, exchange information, showcase their products and strike deals.
Over 60 participants attended the meeting.
A business alliance agreement was also signed between the producer groups and buyer groups to establish and enhance the business alliance.
“It is challenging to create awareness to farmers regarding the demand in the market. For example, if we ask the farmers to grow beans instead of potatoes which is in demand, they don’t believe us. If farmers don’t produce what we have promised for the high-end hotels, then it’s going to be a problem. So, with the meeting today, we are also going to sign an agreement. I think this will benefit the farmers as well as the aggregators,” said Tshering Dorji who is an aggregator.
“I am a farmer and our biggest challenge is selling the produce after growing. We do not get buyers and that way, the hard work we put in goes into vain. But I am so happy today as the meeting will help solve this issue from here on,” said Karma Wangmo, a farmer from Bongo Gewog.
Prior to this meeting, a capacity-building programme for the officials from various relevant offices was organised followed by consultation meetings with the buyers and sellers.
The officials said that with all the efforts being put in including the construction of infrastructure like the integrated cold stores, the market issue is likely to be resolved after a few years.
Kinley Dem, Phuentshogling
