Mokokchung | April 4
Mokokchung is naturally blessed with diverse vegetation and agricultural crops and, hence, an intensified vegetable production in the district has the potential to generate more income and employment opportunities than other segments of the agricultural economy.
However, today, neither the economic nor nutritional power of vegetables has been sufficiently realized. Optimizing the production and distribution of vegetables and other agri products deserve the attention of all stakeholders.
Current status of the vegetable market
Inside the daily wet market of New Market Salangtem, Imodangla of Yaongyimsen village sells various vegetables including green-leaves, banana, aubergine and mock tomato everyday which she buys in bulk stock from various wholesalers. According to her, the wholesalers bring in the vegetables from Longjang, Longsa, Kelingmen and other villages.
While explaining what influences their selling price, she explained that the prices are directly dependent on the charges demanded by the wholesalers.
“We do not buy the vegetables at wholesale rate from the farmers. We buy them from the wholesalers. The rate at which we buy from the wholesalers is fixed in such a way that their freight cost and other charges are compensated,” she said.
Vegetable vendors have often been criticized by the buyers for being “too pricey” and for having very “few stalks of vegetables in a bundle.” Responding to this, she explained that market prices are never in their control but on the wholesalers and mentioned various challenges they face in the form of competitions from shops that are not solely permitted for selling vegetables.
“The permit we have received from the MMC is solely for selling vegetables. But the problem is that there are other shops whose permit is for selling other commodities yet they sell the same vegetables we sell. So, at the moment, it is adversely affecting our sales and is one of the most significant challenges we face,” she explained.
She further highlighted that such competitions have led them to crop wastage which in return has negatively and severely affected their business.
“I would like to request the concerned authority to help us find a different marketplace where buyers can easily notice our business and find easy access into the market,” she suggested.
Arenla Jamir, a resilient single mother, had the same ‘buy and sell’ experience as Imodangla. She said her products are mostly from villages such as Longjang, Mongsenyimti, Khensa, Yimchalu, Khar, Chuchuyimpang and Longsa.
Aren, who has to raise her two children all by herself after her husband passed away, said that the income she makes from the vegetable business is her only means of income to sustain the family.
Regrettably, according to her, it is not a profitable business.
“Many of our fellow vendors have left this business because they realized that this business incurs more loss than profits,” she said.
The Issue
To tap the economic power of vegetables, the government and its agencies will need to give vegetable production much greater priority by increasing their investment and paying attention to farm productivity, postharvest management, food safety, security, credit linkage and market access.
According to the vendors, the cost of the commodities is high because they have to pay more for the transportation cost. This, in return, disrupts the smooth flow of the supply chain.
For instance, price inflation of the local products will typically result in decreased demand for the local products in the market which, in return, will affect the suppliers or the producers. That means the farmers will be discouraged to invest in vegetable farming because it is no longer financially profitable or beneficial for them. This trend will slowly lead to the decline of ‘local farmers/producers’ over the years, which we have been witnessing so far.
However, it was not the demand for vegetables that declined. It was the demand of locally produced vegetables that had declined. This is evidenced by the fact that we get to see imported vegetables flaunting the market and that also at a much affordable price.
The affordable pricing could be an impact of “more supply and production than the demand” or the result of subsidized farming in the neighboring states.
Suggestions
It is apparent that much focus and investment needs to be given to farming and agriculture by the investors, the local authorities as well as the government. However, allowing accessible markets with better working conditions should be made available to the vendors at the earliest. Decent working conditions with proper sanitation, hygiene and other basic amenities should be provided to the vendors.
Another major effort where the government, the authorities and the private investors should stress upon is logistics. Organized logistics hubs must be developed to end logistics and warehousing problems while rural farm areas should be adequately interconnected with the urban market.
Proper connectivity and transportation will decrease the market price which will induce increase in demand for the local produces in the market, and thereby, encourage the producers. This cycle, gradually, will help the district in becoming self-reliant in vegetables and agri products.
Another concern the authorities should look into is that there has to be some regulation in the market but at the same time being sensitive to the interest of the producers and sellers alike, making sure that the intermediaries are not exploiting the farmer producers and the vendors.
The Civil Society Organizations, various student bodies, various business associations and NGOs should come together as a community, create awareness of the importance of agriculture and put more efforts in demanding the government to invest in logistics, connectivity and market accessibility.
(feedback and opinions may be sent to mokokchungtimes@gmail.com)