Buy veggies directly from farmers at Dombivli market

Amidst disturbing information about farmer distress and suicides across the state and country, here is a step in the right direction. The Rotary Club of Dombivli has organised a farmers meet where they will sell their products directly to customers, skipping the middleman.

Farmers will skip agents at the Dombivili meet to sell directly to the customers

According to the Rotary Club president, Rajiv Manohar Mohite, it's a first of its kind intiative in the extended suburb. They are expecting over 80 farmers to sell their produce at Savlaram Krida Sankul, Dombivli (E) from January 30 to February 1. Mohite, who hails from a farming family and is now a builder, believes that it is an important step if farmers are to explore avenues to sell crops directly since passing through agents deprives them of a fair price.

Rajiv Mohite (left), president, Rotary Club Dombivli

Mohite attended farmer's expos across Maharashtra including Vidharbha and Khandesh, where farmers brought their produce to sell directly to customers. He wanted to organise a similar meet in Dombivli, partly because of its proximity to Mumbai and because it gets overlooked.

If you're planning to head there over the weekend, we suggest you also look out for items prepared from fresh produce, including puran mande, kolhapuri tambda and pandhra rassa masalas and Varhadi, Konkani, Malwani and Khandeshi fresh spices and vegetables.

Thane district's agriculture officer, Mahavir Jangate said he is positive about the initiative's success Ashatai Tembe, a farmer from Ambernath taluka, said she was excited to participate. "We go to Kalyan to sell vegetables and sell rice at Vangani village. We hardly get a fair price, several many farmers have quit farming. I learnt of the meet from the taluka agriculture officer, Vijay Patil, and am looking forward to going," she says.

- With inputs from Dipanjan Sinha