𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐲𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

…𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒑𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒑𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒑𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕

By Sonam Choden

The Mongar vegetable market, located in Mongar town, plays an important role in the local economy and community. It acts as a main distribution point for agricultural produce and is a vital source of income for farmers and traders. The recent renovation of the market marks a significant step to improve hygiene, structural safety, and the overall experience for vendors and consumers.

Vegetable marketing in Mongar has changed over time due to logistical challenges and shifting economic conditions. Karma Tenzin, Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer of Mongar, explained that vegetable sales used to begin as early as 3:00 AM, with most produce sold by 7:00 AM. While this early schedule allowed quick distribution, it also caused market congestion and tiredness among farmers. To address these issues, the market moved to regular weekend operations, providing a more predictable system for farmers and consumers. After the recent renovation, many farmers hope to extend market hours into the evening to better meet consumer availability and increase income opportunities. Despite these changes, Karma Tenzin stressed that the main goal remains to supply fresh vegetables steadily and support farmers’ livelihoods.

The market building has three floors designed to improve zoning and movement. The ground floor is for meat sellers, while the middle floor is for vendors selling imported vegetables. These two floors mostly have permanent vendors with fixed stalls who operate daily. The top floor is for local vegetable vendors, mainly small farmers from nearby gewogs such as Chali, Tsakaling, and Mongar. These vendors come intermittently according to harvest seasons. This floor operates on a flexible, first-come, first-served basis without fixed stalls, allowing for the seasonal nature of rural farming.

The renovation was funded by the Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme (CARLEP) with financial support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), costing about Nu. 2 million. The goals were to improve sanitation, strengthen the structure, and provide a safer environment. Upgrades included repairing and installing better ventilation and window shutters. These help improve airflow, regulate temperature, and protect produce from dust and other contaminants. These changes are important for keeping vegetables fresh and making the market safer and more comfortable for everyone.

The Dzongkhag Agriculture Office has observed more vendors taking part in the market since the renovation. Improved facilities have increased confidence among farmers and small traders who previously dealt with poor hygiene, overcrowding, and weak infrastructure. This rise in vendor activity shows the market’s growing role in supporting economic participation and linking rural and urban areas.

The renovation period brought challenges. Vendors were temporarily moved to an open area near the taxi parking zone beside the market. This exposed them to changing weather, including heavy rain. These conditions affected their comfort and the quality of their products and highlighted the need for better planning for such situations in future projects.

After reopening, new operating rules were introduced. Vendors can now operate from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day. This change aims to improve safety by allowing vendors to finish selling before dark. The new hours have had mixed effects. They help with security and better market management, but some vendors say their sales are limited. Jambay, a local vendor, said, “Before the renovation, we could sell vegetables until night, which helped us sell more. Now with the 5 PM closing time, sometimes I can’t sell all my vegetables and have to take some back home.” Despite this, she said the improved facilities made the market a better place.

Dechen, another farmer and occasional vendor, shared similar views. He said the market is cleaner and better organized now and offers a more professional and welcoming space for buyers and sellers. These views show that many accept the changes even as they adjust.

The revised operating hours are still being tested. Officials have said they are open to changing the rules based on vendor feedback and ongoing reviews. This shows local leaders are listening and willing to adjust.
The renovation of the Mongar vegetable market shows how focused infrastructure work can bring several benefits. By improving the physical space and adjusting rules, the market now better supports both economic goals and public health.

This project is an example of modernizing rural markets in a way that balances building improvements with social inclusion. The focus on ventilation, cleanliness, and operating hours shows the Dzongkhag’s commitment to creating a practical and functional market. While some challenges remain, especially with vendor adjustment and temporary disruptions, the positive response from vendors and flexible management suggest a solid base for future work.