KATHMANDU, JUN 06 -
The Organic Agro Promotion Centre
has opened an organic agro bazaar at the Mayalu Centre on Durbar Marg
where people can buy a wide variety of organic foods and beverages
produced in different parts of the country.
The company has said that the products available at the bazaar do not
contain any harmful chemicals as they are grown without using
pesticides.
Dharmaraj Shrestha, chairman of the centre, said the agro bazaar was a
retail hub of organic products established with the aim of offering
healthier products to people besides promoting the organic culture. The
centre has set up 18 stalls containing all kinds of organic foods
ranging from fruits and vegetables to tea, coffee, beans, pulses, rice
and beverages, among others. Minister for Agricultural Development Hari
Prasad Parajuli inaugurated the bazaar on Thursday.
“Demand for organic foods has been swelling day by day, but there is no
accessible market from where customers can obtain their requirements,”
he said. “So we have opened the bazaar, and we assure customers that
they can get organic fresh fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices.”
With regard to prices, a 100 gm packet of organic coffee costs Rs 150,
French bean costs Rs 75 per kg and cucumber costs Rs 70 per kg.
Similarly, organic tomato sells for Rs 120 per kg while onion costs Rs
100 per kg. The centre said that the organic products at the store come
from all over the country like Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Palpa, Chitwan, Ilam,
Morang and other places.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Parajuli expressed hope that
the bazaar would play an effective role in promoting organic farming
and marketing of the products. “If we could attract more people into
organic farming, we would be able to expand its market in the
international market also.”
The minister added that the ministry planned to develop high-yield
varieties of organic products with the aim of luring farmers into the
sector. He said that organic farming would play a very important role in
upgrading the lifestyle of the people.
Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa, who is also involved in the
agriculture business, said that the government should start various
programmes to promote organic farming and marketing. “More and more
people are becoming interested in organic farming these days, but due to
lack of financial access, they have not been able to go ahead with it.”
Bhawani Rana, president of the Agriculture Enterprise Centre, urged
people to engage in organic farming as it is a profitable business. “As
more and more people are becoming health conscious, they don’t hesitate
to spend some more money to buy organic products,” she said. “So, it can
be a high earning business for entrepreneurs.”
According to the centre, the bazaar remains open from 6 am to 8 pm.
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