Weekly rural market is quite a destination for both farmers and consumers in Assam. The footfall of these markets is huge as farmers, weavers and craftsmen from nearby villages come to sell their produce and products.

It is a greater opportunity for farmers to sell their wares and for the consumer to buy locally produced fresh food directly from the fields.  Taloni, Bhodaikuchi, and Bhogpur are among those interior villages in Dimoria block, under Kamrup Metro District of Assam where more than 80 % of the farmers are doing vegetables and paddy cultivation without any chemical inputs. Almost all the households have a kitchen garden at their backyard where one can find all kinds of vegetables, herbs, edibles, and fruits being grown. A variety of nutritious seasonal agricultural products can be found throughout the year. A part of what they grow is kept for self-consumption and the balance is sold through the channels and during the weekly local market every Friday in Khetri.

A part of what they grow is kept for self-consumption and the balance is sold through the channels and during the weekly local market every Friday in Khetri. It is a central place between Jagiroad and Guwahati where consumers from Govt. offices, Schools, Colleges, Banks and other line department offices from Guwahati come on a daily basis to shop. During the weekly market, people from the local, neighbouring and far off places come and sell their products. Since its only one day, everything gets mixed up, all kinds’ products with chemical inputs are also being sold.

With the concern that their products may remain unsold, the local farmers sell their products at whatever rates they get.

Guwahati Gana Seva Society (GGSS), the social work wing of Archdiocese of Guwahati discussed with farmers from these three villages and planned to create a separate market other than the normal weekly market day on Friday. GGSS is working in these villages to support the local farmers and promote their organic agriculture produces. It is implementing the FARM Northeast programme supported by Caritas India.

As a key strategy, it was decided that only local farmers with their organically grown products will be allowed to sell their products in the market. Farmers and GGSS team analyzed that perishable things such as vegetables and fruits don’t last more than 2-3 days, and consumers turn towards the market to replenish their food. Hence, Wednesday can be the right day for setting up the separate weekly market.

GGSS with the support of the local committee, market committee, and Khetri panchayat managed to seek permission for a central place for a weekly market every Wednesday. Though it was not a big space but was enough to set-up at least 4-5 tables. 30-35 farmers are directly and indirectly selling their products through the Wednesday weekly market. 5-6 farmers come to sell their products during every Wednesday and by investing Rs 1000-1200 each of the 5-6 farmers make a profit of Rs 1800-2000 per day.

Wednesday Weekly market has been operational since Dec 2018 and it is successfully functioning. The market starts from 8:00 am till 12:00 pm, all the products are being sold at good rates. The market has been very beneficial to the farmers who are not able to come to the market and sit for the whole day because they are selling their products from their doorstep.  All they must do is to take care of the production part. The marketing part is being taken care of by another group of farmers.

The farmers who sell their products through the weekly market have increased their income. The consumers are also very happy with the concept of a separate market where only organically grown products are being sold. The popularity of the market is growing day by day and more people come to buy things. Initiative like these are the indicator of the sustainability of the FARM Northeast programme and efforts are on to ensure the continuity beyond the programme period.