Provincial Wholesale Agricultural Market in Hetauda to Commence Operations

Makwanpur. Preparations are underway to bring the Provincial Wholesale Agricultural Market constructed in Hetauda into operation. The agricultural wholesale market, constructed with joint investment from the Bagmati government and Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, is being rapidly prepared for operation.

The market, constructed in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, aims to facilitate, systematize, and make the marketing of agricultural products effective. The construction of the wholesale market was completed two years ago but has not yet been operational. It had been in a state of limbo for two years due to a lack of consensus on the operational modality, standards, revenue sharing, and staff management. Now that the Ministry of Agriculture has prepared an operational directive and provided it to Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, the process of bringing the wholesale market into operation has moved forward.

An executive chief has been appointed and an office has been set up to bring the Provincial Wholesale Agricultural Market into operation in Hetauda, and the first coordination meeting of the wholesale market operating committee has already been held. Executive Director Tika Prasad Kafle has been assigned by the ministry to operate the market, and the operating committee has discussed and finalized the market's operational modality, farmer facilities, and wholesale market management.

Operating Committee Under the Chairmanship of Hetauda Mayor, Profit to be Shared

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of the Bagmati Province has prepared a directive for the operation of the Provincial Wholesale Agricultural Market located in Hetauda-11, Thanabharyang. The directive, in accordance with the Provincial Agricultural Development Act, 2082, published in the Provincial Gazette, provides for the operation of the market in partnership between the local and provincial governments.

According to the directive, an 11-member Provincial Wholesale Agricultural Market Operating Committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City for the development and management of the market. The committee will include the Chief Administrative Officer of the Sub-Metropolitan City, the Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 11, representatives from various provincial ministries, a veterinarian, and representatives of farmers and traders as members. The directive includes provisions for nominated members, whose term will be 3 years.

For the daily operations of the market, the ministry will appoint an officer-level employee with a degree in agriculture or an agricultural economist as the 'Executive Director'. The committee will prepare the staffing needs for other necessary employees and appoint them through service contracts with the ministry's approval.

The directive stipulates that the salaries and benefits of the employees will be borne by the committee's internal resources. The directive also mandates a fully competitive process for renting out stalls or business spaces within the market.

For vacant stalls, a public notice must be published in a national daily newspaper with at least 15 days' notice, and the stall will be awarded to the highest bidder. The directive also states that one firm or organization cannot receive more than one stall.

Selected traders will have to deposit a security deposit equivalent to 3 months' rent and sign an agreement for a maximum of 5 years. Rent will not be increased for the first 3 years of the agreement, will increase by 10% in the fourth year, and will be reviewed every 5 years.

The directive also includes provisions for revenue sharing from the operation of the market. According to the directive, 40% of the profit (after deducting expenses) from the operation of the market will go to the province, and 60% will go to the sub-metropolitan city. Out of the total income generated by the market, after deducting annual expenses, 20% of the remaining actual income will be kept in the committee's own fund (for maintenance and operation).

The remaining 80% will be considered as 100%, with 40% deposited into the Bagmati Province Government's consolidated fund and 60% into the Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City's consolidated fund.

Keeping in mind the health of consumers, a laboratory will be established within the market area, and only after testing for pesticide residues through rapid analysis of fresh vegetables and fruits will they be sold. Legal provisions have been made to immediately cancel the agreement and confiscate the deposit if substandard goods are found to be sold or if the stall is transferred to another party in violation of the agreement.

The construction, which was laid on June 18, 2078, with 70% investment from the provincial government and 30% from the local level, is spread over an area of 2 bigha and 4 dhur. The Provincial Wholesale Agricultural Market has 4 well-equipped buildings and a cold store has been constructed. The wholesale market includes structures such as a wholesale market, retail market, farmer sheds, administrative and canteen facilities, and cold storage. The wholesale market also has the facility of 2 elevators in the wholesale and retail buildings.

The wholesale market has 40 shutters and the retail market has 23 shutters. The building is constructed to accommodate wholesale market activities such as underground parking, storage, cold storage, packing, grading, and processing. ANK Mountain was contracted for the construction of the wholesale market for 30 crore 87 lakh 62 thousand 787 rupees, and the construction work started in May 2078.