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Farm-gate selling was not a prominent marketing practice in the study area. However, some farmers sell their
carrot to the buyers at the farm-gate. In this mode of marketing, buying and selling of carrots is done in an
individual basis. Buyers go to the farms, usually at a fixed time given by producers. In case of direct selling
farmers bring their produce in bamboo baskets (Dokos) to the nearby markets on foot. In some cases, they have
permanent buyers in the bazar (local market), and sometimes they visit house-to-house carrying their carrots.
Table 2 Marketing of the carrot in Manahara-Kalimati corridor-2016
SN
Mode of supply
Supply (%)
1
Farm gate selling
2.5
2
Direct seling
to the nearby markets
5
3
Selling to middlemen
12.5
4
Selling through collection centre
50
5
Goto cold storage
30
In study area, about 12.5 % carrots supplied through the middleman. Engaging a middleman who is willing to
collect products from different producers and sell them to retailer to consumers provides employment and income
to both producers and the middleman. Selling of carrots through collection centre was the main marketing mode in
this area, about 50 % carrots supplied through the collection centre (Table 2). Farmers collect their carrots in their
collection centres, and buyers/traders purchase their produce from these collection centres.
In Manahara-Kalimati corridor there is no carrot processing plant so far. Therefore, establishment of a processing
plant near the collection centre not only reduce the wastage of but also provide better opportunity to communicate
with the producers for assured quantity and quality of carrot supply.
3.3 Wholesale market
Kalimati Wholesale Market
Kalimati Vegetable Market is the pioneer organized terminal wholesale market in Nepal. For giving an organized
shape to the marketing of agricultural produce, especially, vegetables and fruits in Kathmandu valley, Kalimati
Wholesale Market was set up by the Department of Food & Agriculture Marketing Services under the Ministry of
Agriculture in 1986. This market has 296 transaction stalls and over 200 traders are involved in vegetable
business.
Carrots from different parts of the country are collected and traded in this market. Kathmandu, Lalitpur,
Bhaktapur, Dhanding, Nuwakot, Kavrepalachowk and Makawanpur are the major suppliers of carrots in Kalimati
wholesale market. Price of the carrots depends on the demand and supply situation in the market. It was found that
during the production period, the wholesale price ruled very low while during the lean period, the prices were
quite high which is due to seasonal and perishable nature of the carrot roots. The Figure 1 shows the price of
carrot rise from April/May with maximum in October (NRs. 137/kg) and price become less than average from
January. The minimum price is seen in the month of February (NRs. 26/kg).
As per the Figure 1, if there's provision of cold storage, carrots can be stored during production season when price
becomes low in the markets and later can be sold at higher price during off-seasons.
Farmers
Consumers
Farmers
Retailers
Consumers
Farmers
Collection centre
Wholesalers
Consumers
Retailers
