Direct traders to register businesses, keep records of reciepts, invoices

KATHMANDU, Aug 28: As part of the government efforts to regulate fruits and vegetable markets, the Department of Commerce, Supply & Protection of Consumers on Monday conducted an inspection of Balkhu Vegetables and Fruits Market in Kathmandu.

A team led by Joint Secretary Deepak Pokharel reached the market at 4 am on Monday. It took a trader under control after he tried to obstruct monitoring, officials of the department told Republica.

"One trader name Rabi Sah tried to obstruct our activities. That is why we took him under control," Pokharel said, adding that he will be kept under observation for a day.

The team checked invoices and Permanent Account Number (PAN) of trades. It found that some traders were doing business without registering for PAN. 

"We have directed Shubha Shree Pvt Ltd, which operates the market, to make sure that all traders at the market are abiding by the country's law," he added. "We have told traders to get PAN and maintain record of all their receipts and invoices." 

According to Shubha Shree Pvt Ltd, there are 240 stalls at Balkhu Vegetable and Fruits Market. "More than 150 traders have already registered their businesses at Kathmandu Metropolitan City, while remaining are in the process of registration," Mohan Kumar Basnet, chairman of Shubha Shree Pvt Ltd, said.

Commenting on monitoring of the market by the department, Basnet said that the government should rather bring a policy addressing all farmers, traders and intermediates for better regulation of the market, rather than focusing on such campaigns. "We do not have intermediaries at the market. We have transporters who bring farm produce from farmers to the market," he added.

Pokharel, however, refuted the claim. "Vegetables produced by farmers pass through different stages before they reach the market. And price increases in every step," he said. "There are people who collect vegetables from the farm and supply them to the market through different intermediaries. Each if these players set profit margin for them," Pokharel said, adding that end consumers are being forced to pay for these intermediaries who literally do nothing.

He also added that traders are arguing that they get supply directly from the farmers to protect these intermediaries.

Some traders told Republica that it would be difficult to send their products to market without taking help of intermediaries.

 
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