Mao produces to be sold in 'shifting' markets
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 29 2019: Agricultural and horticultural produces brought from Moreh would be sold in open markets in greater Imphal area and the markets would be shifted from one place to another from time to time.

There would be Mao open market sale twice in a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The first such market would be opened at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai community hall tomorrow.

The Mao open market sale would be facilitated by the Mao Imphal Market Coordinating Committee which has been formed by Mao Union, Mao Students' Union, Mao Business Women Vendors Association, IPSA, CLK and KSA.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Mao Imphal Market Coordinating Committee advisor Ibotombi Khuman recalled that Mao produces were prohibited at Kohima following an unfortunate incident which took place on July 3, 2015 .

Subsequently, a Mao market was opened at Khoyathong, Imphal.

Mao produces to be sold in 'shifting' markets

After sometime, the market was shifted to Lamphel super market as it posed serious traffic problems at Khoyathong.

There was also a plan to construct a market shed at Lamphel super market but the vendors could not sell much there.

Moreover, the market shed has not been constructed yet.

Considering the inconveniences faced by vendors from Mao due to lack of proper place for selling their produces, many CSOs joined together and came up with the idea of Mao open market sale, Ibotombi said.

Nonetheless, he appealed to the Government to construct a permanent market shed for farmers/vendors coming from Mao at the earliest.

Mao-Imphal Market Coordinating Committee convenor Khuraijam Athouba pointed out that Kohima is just 27 Kms away from Mao whereas the distance between Mao and Imphal is 109 Kms.

Notwithstanding the much longer distance, farmers and traders of Mao prefer to sell their produces at Imphal, Athouba said.

People coming to buy Mao produces at Imphal belong to all communities of the State and the farmers/traders of Mao feel a sense of pride when they sell their produces at Imphal, he claimed.

There is an urgent need to construct a permanent market shed so that vegetables and other produces which cannot be sold in a day can be stored properly.

It is also equally important to construct toilet facilities for farmers/traders coming from Mao, Athouba said.

Generally, agricultural produces are harvested most abundantly at Mao during the months of July and August.

Now there is an economic connection between Mao and Imphal, and this connection needs to be promoted by allocating a proper site at Imphal where the produces of Mao can be sold without any disturbance, he continued.

Traders and farmers of Mao who come to Keishampat Leimajam Leikai tomorrow to sell their produces would be accorded a warm reception by the people of the locality, he added.