Farmer’s Market – Revitalizing Nepal’s Age-Old Occupation

Farming, as an occupation, has been embedded into the day-to-day life of Nepalese since centuries ago. Even in the modern age of service and technology, agriculture in Nepal employs 66% of the nation’s population. Moreover, the sector contributes over 30% GDP towards the national economy. 

Small-scale industries, farming, rearing-related jobs, and product manufacturing support millions of the country’s population. The Nepali government has continuously tried to minimize poverty for several years via agriculture. Such effort, accompanied by entrepreneurial developments, has led to the evolution of agro-based markets into a brand. Let’s begin the article with a short introduction to Farmer’s Market.

What is a Farmer’s Market?

The Farmers’ Market is a physical retail where a farmer intends to sell their products directly to consumers or buyers. It may be some booth, room, or trays holding live animals or plants or sometimes prepared food. 

Farmer’s Market operates with a main mission of promoting locally-grown agro-products. During the corona pandemic, this form of market started its online service in Nepal . Multiple sites and online vendors have been promoting homegrown products. 

Benefits of the Market

For Farmers

These markets are highly beneficial for farmers as they have high-profit margins selling directly to consumers over a wholesaler or large grocery firms. Direct selling minimizes transport, storage, and handling costs, further enhancing profit margin. Let us take into consideration a poultry farmer rearing a Local chicken. A local chicken’s market in Nepal operates discriminately, not favoring the producers. A mediator or a meat shop owner generally offers a cost of 500 Nrs per kg to producers. But it is often sold in meat shops for 800-1000 per kg and restaurants for 1500-2500 per kg. This level of margin enjoyed by the outlets certainly demoralizes local chicken producers. If farmers themselves sell this product, it will inevitably rectify this unjust state of the market. So farmers, why sell your product at unjustified value? Join your nearest Farmers’ market as soon as possible.

The unsold and unwanted products can be provided by farmers directly to canneries and food processing firms. A total premium return from the market is the most profitable scenario for every domestic farmer. An apple farmer can sell his access product to a refiner for wine, a poultry or animal farmer can trade dead animals with fisheries, or even the excess tomatoes can turn into ketchup. Being a farmer, it is always good to keep your eyes open to earn profit in every possible scenario.

Some farmers prefer to sell their products directly to consumers as they are more interested in personal relationships and business transparency. One method can be providing products for consumers for the whole season, month, or week. The technique is called Food Empowerment Project, where the consumers can pay biweekly or monthly. More sales & profit would certainly benefit farmers, wouldn’t it?

For Consumers

The question may arise: what is there for consumers? One can say better food, others might say ethical contentment, whatever it may be, farmers’ market is certainly appealing to consumers. Isn’t it terrific to get the product directly from farmers, no driving, no parking headaches? The seasonal varieties bring varying tastes to everyday food. The interactions with the community members while purchasing products add extra societal significance to the Farmers’ market. As a whole, the market is a quality option for communities, and consumers.

Popular Farmer’s Market of Kathmandu

The current trend of such a market has shown great prospects. Despite traditional agriculture being the least preferred occupation by the majority of youths, a niche of enthusiastic youths have shown their engagements in the sector. This engagement has contributed a lot to self-employment and organic food contribution. Make sure you visit them and try delicious yet healthy food varieties they offer. The location, operating time, specialty, and contact information for mentioned Farmer’s Market is tabulated below.

Market	Location	Operating time	Contact No.
The Yellow House	Sanepa	Sun: 9 am – 12 pm	01-5553869
Le Sherpa Restaurant	Lazimpat	Sat: 7:30 am – 12:30 pm	01-4428604
1905 restaurant	Thamel	Sat: 10 am – 12 pm	01-4411348
Park Village Resort	Budhanilkantha	Sat: 3 pm – 7 pmSun: 8 am – 1 pm	01-4375280
Taragaun Museum Premises	Boudha	Sat: 8 am – 12 pm	01-4478596
Farmers Market Nepal	(Online)	Any specific time	9866405369
Organic Market Nepal	Shital Niwas	Sat: 8 am – 12 pm	9848090884