The local vendors of Toebisa Gewog selling vegetables along the Punakha-Thimphu highway will no longer have to struggle. A 28-unit Organic Product Centre at Bjichulum will now provide them with a proper and safer market shed. The new market shed was inaugurated recently.
Spanning on an area of 34 decimal state land, the new market shed has a proper parking space for vehicles, a footpath and an electricity supply. The shed also has public toilets.
It was challenging for the vendors to sell their produce without a proper market shed.
“In the past, it was quite risky especially for kids when they came to the shed tagging along with their mothers. But now the new market shed is safe and convenient for the customers. It has a proper parking space as well. I am hoping that things will go well now,” said Tashi Tshering, a vendor.
“In the new shed, we have the opportunity to install fan and refrigerators in this hot weather. There are light facilities too. Unlike in the past, we can now lock our shops to keep the products safe,” said Choki Pema, another vendor.
“The new market shed will encourage people to focus more on growing vegetables. People can come in the morning, sell their produce, go back home and do other work. It has become convenient,” said Goenmkha-Mendrelgang Tshogpa, Pema Thinley.
“The vendors will have to keep the shed open to enable the farmers in the district to come and sell their produce to the vendors. The vendors will have to buy the produce at a reasonable price. The farmers will return to the village after selling the produce. This way, farmers don’t have to repeat the tedious task of packing up the leftover and going back, unlike in the past,” said Toebisa Mangmi, Kinley Gyeltshen.
The market shed was constructed at a cost of Nu 14 M. Besides improving market access, the shed is expected to encourage farmers in the district to increase vegetable production.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Sonam Pem
