Traditional marketplaces in Nepal’s Tarai are shifting. So are crop yields
Summary
Traditional grain marketplaces in Nepal's Tarai region are declining as farmers sell directly at farm-gates and crop production falls, weakening farmers' bargaining power and altering rural economies.
Key Points
- Traditional grain markets known as galla mandis in Nepal's Tarai have largely disappeared, replaced by village-level trading dominated by middlemen.
- Farmers increasingly sell directly to traders at farm-gates, reducing price competition and farmer bargaining power.
- Declining agricultural production due to land fragmentation, fertilizer shortages, and urbanization has weakened grain market supply.
- Rising imports, changing cropping patterns, and improved road networks have further transformed grain trading dynamics, impacting farmer earnings.
