Farmers’ markets for every province

Farmers’ markets for every province

Five new farmers’ markets were officially opened Friday, pilot projects under the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry's plan to open a direct marketing channel for farmers in every province by the end of this year.

The Marketing Organisation for Farmers, a state enterprise, plans to open markets in all provinces by the end of the year..

The first five provinces are Chiang Rai, Uttaradit, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok and Trang.

 Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Phuengboon Na Ayudhaya said about 70 markets had been operating  informally for some time. The Office of Agricultural Economics had constantly evaluated their performance.

Olarn Pitak, director-general of Cooperatives Promotion Department, said informal weekly farmers’ markets generated 50,000 to 100,000 baht in sales in each week, or 184.8 to 396.6 million baht a year.

The new markets in these five provinces will offer a variety of products -- vegetables, fruit, fish and consumer goods, so the department expected their popularity will grow.

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