Self-Employment Through Producer-Led HaatBazaar
A Story from Gorkha, Gandaki Province, Nepal
In rural Nepal, the lack of institutionalized and producer-led markets has long forced many youths to abandon agriculture, either shifting to other professions or seeking foreign employment. However, a new cooperative model of HaatBazaar in Gorkha is showing that when farmers are given direct access to markets, they can find both dignity and income in farming.
Among 90 sales stalls at this HaatBazaar, 85 are run by youths under 30 years old, each earning an additional net income of NPR 5,000 per month. Farmers report that in just 24 weeks, the bazaar has recorded transactions worth NPR 16 million (1.6 crore). Encouraged by this success, producers have expanded cash crop cultivation by an additional 28 hectares.
Establishing the HaatBazaar
The cooperative-based HaatBazaar was established 24 weeks ago at Ramshah Ghat, Manakamana, Gorkha. Facilitated by the CMDP project and Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality, it brought together five cooperatives, citrus farmer groups, private agri-firms, and wholesalers.
The first meeting on October 4, 2019, decided to set up the bazaar, which was inaugurated on October 13, 2019. Local bamboo-based “Kisan Stalls” were set up temporarily, with plans to develop a permanent Kisan Bazaar in the future. Recently, the Gandaki Province Government announced a call for strengthening infrastructure, and the management committee has already submitted a proposal for NPR 63,70,000 to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Tangible Benefits for Farmers and Consumers
In just 24 weeks, citrus farmers alone recorded direct sales of oranges worth NPR 35,28,000. Through local merchants, they previously received NPR 40 per kg, but at the HaatBazaar they now get at least NPR 100 per kg. Consumers also benefit—while retail markets charge NPR 150 per kg for mandarins, the bazaar price is only NPR 100.
Sustaining the Bazaar
According to Mr. Hom Nath Rimal, President of the Bazaar Management Committee, many additional benefits are being realized. Retail agri-livestock markets nearby, such as Aabukhaireni, are now more regulated. Farmers have easier access to sell local products, while rural youth are gaining advanced self-employment opportunities.
To ensure sustainability, the committee collects a minimal fee of NPR 50 per day from producers and over NPR 100 from non-agricultural stalls, raising at least NPR 10,000 weekly. This supports the smooth running of the bazaar and could help fund one paid staff for coordination and management.
A Pathway for Rural Prosperity
Agriculture contributes one-third of Nepal’s GDP and provides employment to two-thirds of the population. However, unmanaged, multi-layered marketing systems have long limited its potential. The producer-led HaatBazaar model demonstrates how transparent, cooperative markets can reduce exploitation, enhance farmer income, and accelerate the transition from subsistence to commercial farming.
