Why Are Our Markets Ahead of Our Fields?

Traditionally, the time around March and April is considered the sowing season, and Moatsü is celebrated in the first week of May, marking its end. Changing agricultural practices, the availability of hybrid and chemically treated seeds, and climate change may have altered the sowing season to some extent, but the fundamental practice remains the same. Yet, a walk through the market today reveals something curious — fresh vegetables and fruits like cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, cucumber, and watermelon are already available, even though our farmers are only now beginning to sow their seeds.

To the layman, this raises a simple but important question: how is this possible? Considering the time these crops take to mature, the seeds must have been sown as early as December. Is off-season farming now so widespread in other states? And if so, why are we not adopting these practices locally?

The answer likely lies in a mix of factors — most probably access to technology, early seed availability, greenhouse methods, and institutional support — all of which appear more accessible outside our state. If our farmers are to compete in local markets and reduce dependency on imports, they must be empowered with similar knowledge and tools.

Those who are familiar with this phenomenon are requested to share their knowledge with the public. Entities like the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and the Department of Horticulture, in particular, might want to explain how this is possible.

Even more puzzling is the year-round availability of crops like tomato, chili, and potato. Is this the result of cold storage, multiple crop cycles, or advanced farming methods? The public deserves to be educated, and farmers deserve access to these advancements if they are to stay relevant and profitable.

As consumers, we should support local produce, but government institutions must also act — not with vague policies but with real, on-the-ground solutions. The gap between what we grow and what we consume is widening. It’s time we ask: how do we close it?

MT