Direct farmer-to-consumer sales advocated

Progressive farmers suggest makeshift markets modelled on Sunday bazaar to combat middlemen

KARACHI:

Setting up farmers' markets throughout the province can benefit growers and save them from losses to a great extent, while eliminating the dubious role of middlemen and promoting healthy eating to all consumers, sustainable agriculture experts said.

"Establishing farmers' markets or even makeshift markets like Itwar (Sunday) Bazaar or Jumma Bazaar can be a game changer for farmers who can sell the produce directly to buyers and earn a reasonable profit, while middlemen eat up a large profit margin and enjoy monopoly," said progressive livestock farmer Syed Zarar Haider Shah from Tando Allahyar district of Sindh.

He said farmers' markets are like a paradise for growers throughout the developed world, such as America, Canada, European countries, and even India, but there were no such markets in Pakistan.

He said organic and inorganic produce must be brought to these markets so that consumers may have options to purchase both, as organic vegetables and fruits are more nutritional than inorganic ones.

Ali Palh, Advocate and President of the Small Growers' Organisation of Sindh Agriculture Research Council (SARC), said farmers' markets can eliminate monopoly, while providing all fresh vegetables, fruits, and other produce at cheaper rates to consumers. If growers lift their produce and take it to Karachi's market from Tando Allahyar or Hyderabad, it will take almost three hours, and the rates of produce will be cheaper because there is no role of middlemen or traders.

Progressive farmer Nazo Dharijo from Nawabshah said both landlords and peasants have been facing losses these days due to falling crop yields from climate change, such as sweltering heat and other conditions that do not suit standing crops.

She said, "We as growers have no option but to leave agricultural lands and do some other work to scratch out a decent living. This is an agrarian country, but it is being destroyed. Wheat was sold at Rs5,000 per 40kg last year, but it is sold at Rs2,500 per 40kg now. The same case happened with the sugarcane crop, which takes one year to mature. Sugarcane was sold at Rs500 per 40kg last year, but it is now sold at Rs350 per 40kg. It is really difficult for growers to get the input cost of crops. Can you believe that growers are making their livestock eat wheat in Punjab because of lower rates?"

Sindh Chamber of Agriculture Senior Vice President Nabi Bux Sathio said there are 82 markets across Sindh with 82 market committees under the Sindh Agriculture Department, but there are only two functional markets, Karachi and Hyderabad, called Sabzi Mandi.

He said the names of these 82 markets must be changed to farmers' markets, which must be fully functional forthwith, while using the same infrastructure.

Sathio added that a new post was also created as Director General (DG) Market Committees three years ago, but in vain. Plots of growers in Karachi's Sabzi Mandi were encroached upon, and they are not allowed to sell their agricultural produce there, while a couple of growers are doing business at Hyderabad Sabzi Mandi, where they are earning better profits.

He said a total of 82 markets were slowly and gradually set up after the 1973 Constitution, but almost all of them failed to benefit growers. Traders and growers must have shares of 40% and 60% respectively at each designated market.