December 3: The Centenary Farmers Market, the new vegetable market in the capital is expected to open soon. It’s been more than one and half months since it was inaugurated. The stalls in the market have been allocated to 160 licensed vegetable vendors yesterday.

Vegetable vendors will not have to sell vegetables along the road or in the parking area in the vicinity of the Centenary Farmers Market. They may soon be able to sell vegetables inside the Centenary Farmers Market.

A committee comprising of officials from various departments allocated stalls inside the market to 160 regular licensed vendors. To ensure that there is no bias in the allocation of the stalls, the vendors took part in a lucky dip.

One of the committee members said the vendors will start selling vegetables at the new market soon after the lease agreement between the vendors and the committee has been drawn.

Vendors will have to pay between Nu. 1600 to Nu. 2000 every month as rent depending on the size of the stalls. With stall allotment yesterday, the struggle for old vendors is over. Most said they are happy that they are finally moving into the new market. Some, however, said the stalls are too small.

But the struggle has just begun for new vendors. The new vendors will also have to sit through a lucky dip for the stalls on December 9. Their luck better be good on that day. With over 600 applicants and only 150 stalls, only the luckiest will get the stalls.

Meanwhile, the Chief Marketing Officer of the Agriculture Ministry said waste management measures have been put in place. He said farmers will be provided dust bins. They will also be trained to segregate the waste. The City Corporation will transport the organic waste to the compost plant in Serbithang and non biodegradable waste to Memelakha. The new market will remain open six days a week from 6 am till 8 pm.