Mokokchung Times Exclusive
January 22
The All Women’s Wednesday Bazaar, initiated in 2010 by Watsü Mungdang, the apex women organization of the Ao community continue to thrive till date. Even in the midst of the pandemic, the market is seen crowded by women from different villages selling their locally grown products.
As India, in general, look towards ‘Self-reliant India’, the women- vendors the Wednesday Bazaar have the ability to become self-reliant and economically independent with their naturally-grown crops. The interesting thing about this market is the enthusiasm the women vendors have which is shared equally by the urban dwellers in buying local products.
“The sale depends on the day but I can tell that it does have a lot of benefits,” said one of the vendors who purchase the crops from rural areas for reselling. “Our current income could double up if only we are provided with a new daily market specifically for local products,” added another who has been selling her farm products both in Wednesday Bazaar and even outside of it.
Due to favorable geographical location, various crops are amassed in abundance; yet due to lack of proper logistics, transportation and lack of linkage to a larger market, the crops being perishable items often wither and get wasted. “Some days, we don’t sell well in the market so we take the left-over products back home and consume it by ourselves or share it with the neighbors before it rots away,” said one of the vendors.
Setting up of a new daily market for the local products was one of the stronger demands on asking if there were any other grievances to be shared.