Rural Enterprises and Remittances Project (RERP) “Samriddhi” at Belhera of Dhankuta Municiaplity has arranged a common consensus building workshop. During the event organized on 19th August 2021 wholesale traders, cooperative board members, farmer group members, and SAMRIDDHI project team discussed amongst stakeholders to accelerate collective marketing strategy on project selected green vegetable supply chain commodity.
In the program participants acknowledged the appropriateness and benefits of collective marketing strategy. Belhera of Dhankuta being one of the flourishing green vegetable clusters; RER Project generated smallholder farmers; producer group members have found the cooperative-led collective marketing strategy as highly beneficial. Therefore, the participants identified a need of arranging follow up interactions and discussion events in the future too.
For the better understanding on best practices of “collective marketing” learning sharing activity was also arranged. Mr Laxman Devkota (Wholesale trader of Karnali Province) in a virtual mode shared good practice and experience from Birendranagar Agriculture Market- Surkhet about the “collective marketing” ideas. Project working in the province 1─ Nepal Agriculture Market Development Project (SAHAJ) is also networking with the RER Project having the common objective.
A total potential production of green vegetables at the Belhara cluster was assessed. Wholesale traders to name ─ Mr Tanka Roila (Hile), Mr Ram Bahadur Bhandari (Itahari), Mr Uddab Lamichhane(Dhankuta), Mr Umesh Bhattarai(Itahari), Mr Paras Chaudhary(Inaruwa),Mr Dinesh Rahapaheli (Tarahara Sunsari), Mr Madhab Roila(Terathum) including other local collectors committed for the buy-back agreement of the vegetable produced by Belahara cluster farmers.
One of the cooperatives of Belahara ─ “The Jalpadevi Agriculture Cooperative” is leading for “collective marketing”. Traders during this common consensus building program urged cooperative members to ensure quality vegetable produce including good grade and timely management. Traders expressed commitment to contribute to the betterment of producer farmers of Belhera. Mr Tanka Roila, the secretary of Jalpadevi Cooperative, assured all traders to provide quality goods by setting up five collection points at the Belahara cluster. These collection points will be inaugurated formally by next month. Secretary anticipates the “collective marketing” idea will benefit the farmer with the collective bargaining capacity such as —on appropriate pricing of the vegetable produce and timely delivery.
