MoU signed to set up farmers’ market in Gurgaon

The market will offer an alternative business model to farmers and check migration, said officials

To eliminate third parties and ensure that farmers get higher profits through direct sales to the consumer, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG).

The move is aimed at creating a farmers’ market, where consumers can directly buy produce at fair prices and in turn will encourage producers to stick to farming. (File Photo)

The move is aimed at creating a farmers’ market, where consumers can directly buy produce at fair prices and in turn will encourage producers to stick to farming.

Officials said such a market gives an opportunity for retaining and encouraging farmers by providing a viable business model and also by putting a check on migration.

Main advantages of a farmers’ market is that producers will get a larger share of profit as it curbs intermediaries and also permits them to sell a smaller share of products, which is often not possible in wholesale markets.

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“With demand and supply remaining erratic, it was found that farmers have little role in determining the price of goods, which was largely influenced by middlemen who could manipulate demand-supply conditions. Hence, opening a farmers’ market will encourage agricultural output,” SS Rohilla, spokesperson of MCG said.

As per MCG officials, the Haryana state agricultural marketing board representatives will verify prices of vegetables and fruits in wholesale markets and, keeping farmer’s profit margins in mind, will fix a daily price on the products being sold in farmer’s market.