KHOTANG, May 20: Rupakot Majhuwagadi Municipality of Khotang has started strict plans to end the middlemen practice in vegetable sales in the municipality. Rules have been formulated to end the middlemen practice in the weekly bazaar held in Diktel.
“Strict rules have been formulated in the wake of public complaints that the middlemen sell very cheap products they buy in bulk at very high prices,” mayor of Rupakot Majhuwagadi Dip Narayan Rijal said. According to the consumers, there is an increase of up to Rs 20 per kg in agricultural products such as tomatoes, cauliflower, potato, onion, ginger, cabbage, broccoli, garlic, coriander, bitter gourd, peas, and green leafy vegatables due to the middlemen practice.
Modern vegetable market fails to come into operation
There has been an increase in the trend of middlemen buying vegetables from farmers on their way to bazaar and selling them at higher prices. A ban has been imposed on buying of products for business between 5:30 AM and 9 AM. Businessmen can only buy products after 9 AM by when consumers will have bought their necessities. Farmers and businessmen from the bazaar have been asked to help in putting an end to the middlemen practice. The municipality has notified the public that action will be taken against businessmen who break the rule.
Some of the businessmen even buy products at the bazaar and sell them there too. “Middlemen profit from the practice while the hard working farmers suffer losses,” said a leader of farmers of Khalle, Kedar Katwal.
“The farmers who bring their agricultural products from their villages are in a hurry to sell their products. They wish to continue their household activities by selling their products quickly and heading home. Therefore, they end up selling their products to the middlemen who are the only ones to profit,” Katwal added.
Attempts made in the past to end the middlemen practice in the bazaar, were not successful. This resulted in losses for the hard working farmers and profits for the middlemen.
