SHILLONG: Defying the lockdown’s topsy-turvy effect on trade and commerce, the small vegetable growers from various hamlets around Upper Shillong area have created a makeshift market in downtown Shillong which is turning out to be one-stop spot for delightfully picking up freshly harvested local vegetables—all at an affordable price.
With Iewduh—the town’s biggest market—shut, the vegetable growers have limited outlet.
The middlemen, who normally pick up their produce, being not in the scene for now, the farmers had to come up with an out of the box idea for disposing of their perishable seasonal produce.
And what an idea they have hit up!
At the crack of dawn (except Sundays), the farmers belonging to various villages from Umlyngka to Sohiong, descend in small hordes in private vehicles laden with an array of local vegetables, assemble at a vacant road-side in Cantonment area, (at the entry of the road leading to Umsohsun-GS Road junction), do brisk business and scoot before the law enforcing people begin their day.
And it’s a veritable win-win situation both for themselves as well as the buyers. By 6 in the morning, there are already a fairly large number of takers; some come on foot, others in their automobiles. They are lured not by the attractive price alone, but also the irresistible freshness and taste these vegetables bring with them.
Some of the sellers operate from their vans. The not so fortunate ones sit on the ground with small quantities of day’s yield from their farm lands. To save time, some weigh them in advance; put them in plastic carry bags for ready disposal.
In just two hours, the farmers dispose of their stock, count their money and the day is made.
The buyers, on the other hand, are happy to pick up these inviting vegetables at a price at least 25% lower than elsewhere in the town.
Compare the price tags which vary depending mainly upon weather conditions:
French beans sell here at anything between Rs 30 and Rs 50 per kg (in Laitumkhrah it’s Rs 80), Green peas are Rs 30-50 a kilo (in Laitumkhrah they sell for 80 to 100 or more), fully grown carrots are Rs 30-40 a kg, so are cabbages, cauliflowers, cucumbers, tomatoes.
Freshly plucked tyrso (Lai sag) sells at Rs 10-15 per bunch, salgum (Rs 25), and medium size radish (Rs 20 for a hali).
And then to the consumers’ delight, there are garden fresh lettuce, mints, coriander leaves, local palak, capsicum and loads of ripe local bananas, believed to be highly nutritious.
After a snappy transaction, the sellers’ happy faces say it all that it’s a seller’s market for sure. By the trend of things, this improvised market is here to stay unless Iewduh reopens or the authorities have other ideas.
