Mawiong Wholesale Regulated Market Its Activities, Functions and Achievements.
Market Regulation in Meghalaya:
The
State Agricultural Produce Marketing Act was enacted in the year 1980 and
the State Agricultural Marketing Board was set up in 1983, to develop
marketing infra structural facilities and to provide marketing support to
the farmers in the State. In the year 1991, with the assistance of the
Centre for Agricultural Marketing, Government of India located at Jaipur,
detailed survey was conducted and a project profile for development of
marketing infrastructure in Meghalaya was prepared. Accordingly, it was
proposed to set up secondary markets in each District in the State which are
called Wholesale Regulated Market. Thus, land was made available at Mawiong
in the East Khasi-Hills District, Garobadha in the West Garo Hills District
and Williamnagar in the East Garo Hills District.
Objectives of Regulated Market:
The avowed objectives of regulated market since its very inception has been to regulate market practices, to protect the economic interest of the producers/sellers and to help them in obtaining remunerative price for their produce. The institution of regulated market, considered as a panacea against most of the evils that prevailed in the agriculture marketing system, helps ensure an orderly and efficient marketing system with rationalised trade practices and procedures.
Functions of Regulated Market:
Regulated market occupies a place of
paramount importance in the contemporary agricultural marketing scenario.
Creations of marketing infrastructure like storage godown, auction platform,
grading platform, internal roads, other supporting services and facilities,
introduction of standardised marketing practices, elimination of
unauthorised deductions, reasonable and standardised market charges, correct
weighment, timely payment, settling of market disputes etc. are some of the
parameters of successful functioning of regulated market. Genesis of Mawiong
Wholesale Regulated Market: The Development of Mawiong Regulated Market was
started on a plot of land which consisted of a steep slope and depressed
marshy land. In about five years time, the entire area was transformed. On
12th August 1996, the first actual transaction could be started in the
regulated market, where the trading of potato was initially taken up for
buying and selling. The response of the farmers and the traders was very
enthusiastic and has stood in good stead to bring the market to this present
form. With the commissioning of the Mawiong Wholesale Market, the wholesale
trade of Potato, Tezpatta, Broomstick, Torch wood and CP Bark was taken up
by the regulated market in right earnest.
The market was formally inaugurated by the then Hon. Chief Minister,
Shri. Salseng Marak on the 17th September 1996 which was a red letter day in
the history of agricultural marketing in the State. Since 1996-97 till
2000-2001, the market has handled produces of about 1,63,803 Metric Tonnes
approximately, which is worth an estimated value of Rs.7200 Lakhs. The
Market has also collected about Rs.71.46 Lakhs as market excess from the
traders operating inside the regulated market.
Infrastructure created in the Regulated Market:
With the establishment of
regulated market in the State, the Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing
Board with financial assistance from the Government of India, has created
the following infrastructure in the Mawiong Regulated Market.
1. Trader Store cum Storage Godowns
2. Auction Platform.
3. Grading Platform.
4. Bank.
5. Rest House.
6. Parking Yard.
7. Drinking Water Facilities.
8. Latrines.
9. Entry and Exit Roads.
10. Market Committee Office Building.
11. 1000 MT capacity Meg Cold Storage.
Present Activities of the Market Committee:
The
Mawiong Market Committee was duly constituted comprising of representatives
from the government, farmers, traders, co-operative societies, local bodies
to implement and enforce the provisions of the Act, Rules and Bye laws as
provided in the Meghalaya Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1980. * The
Market Committee is collecting and disseminating market intelligence on
prices, arrivals from villages and despatches to outstation markets on a
daily basis. These reports are also regularly passed on to various central
government department, State government departments etc. * The Market
Committee is also collecting market cess from traders @ one rupee per one
hundred rupee advalorem within the regulated market. * Training and other
awareness generation programmes are also undertaken by the Market Committee
functionary from time to time on the functions of regulated market.
Facilities Provided in the Regulated Market: As mentioned earlier, infra
structural facilities have been created inside the market for the benefits
of the traders and farmers who operate inside the market. Besides other
supporting services and facilities are available for the benefit of the
farmers. These are:- * Standardised and verified Weight and Measures. * No
Entry or Toll tax. * Free temporary storage of unsold produce in the market
yard. * Transportation of farmer’s produce from villages to the regulated
market by the market committee’s two nos. of trucks at very reasonable
charges. * Round the clock security inside the market complex. * Provision
of rest house for farmers who wish to stay overnight. * Clean drinking water
supply. * Provision of latrines inside the market. * Spacious parking yard
for vehicles coming from villages/outside the state. * A branch of the
Meghalaya Co-operative Bank inside the Market for business transaction of
farmers and traders