The first Kisan Bazaar was inaugurated by Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture Somnath Poudyal at Gangtok on Sunday.
The Kisan bazaar has been set up at a cost of Rs 22.75 crore by the Urban Development and Housing Development Department.
The seven-storied Kisan Bazaar was formally inaugurated by the Minster in the presence of UD&HD Minster NK Subba and other dignitaries.
Agriculture & Horticulture Minister Poudyal stated that the government has constructed the Kisan bazaar to provide direct benefit to the farmers and encourage them in organic farming.
“This bazaar is open for all farmers who want to sell organic vegetables and other organic products. Earlier, our farmers sold their products in small areas of Lall Bazaar but from today, they have got a very good place to sell the vegetables. This is a huge addition to our Organic Mission,” he stated.
The minister also mentioned that the department was focusing on boosting and encouraging farmers to grow more and double their income by selling their organic vegetables and products directly in the market.
“I am sure that now farmers of Sikkim will get good and best price of their organic products through this direct marketing process. This will encourage them to increase the production of vegetables,” Poudyal stated.
Minister Poudyal thanked all farmers who had come from various constituencies to sell their organic vegetables and products on inaugural day and for their support on government organic initiatives. He informed that department would start another Kisan Bazaar at Singtam in East Sikkim shortly.
Likewise, UD&HD Minister Subba mentioned that Kisan bazaar which has been set up by the department have facilities of 3 Cold Storage Units, one of which is allotted to SIMFED and remaining two can be used by farmers, having a capacity of 250 metric ton each, Cafeteria, Canteen and other necessary facilities in the seven storied building.
Subba informed that the department had provided 28 vehicles in 28 different constituencies for transportation purpose so that our framers can use these vehicles to carry their vegetables from their place to Kisan bazaar. “Farmers can sell their organic vegetables anytime by just showing NOC from their respective panchayts,” he said.
Farmers who came from different places of the State have expressed their gratitude to the State government and the department for providing Kisan bazaar to them.