The concept of ‘Vocal for Local’ was actually already established many decades earlier by the villagers living in hinder land of the State and country. Nowadays, it has become synonymous with health diet and understanding nature and its proven wealth during monsoon season especially by the younger working class of people as compared to the older generation.
While travelling to Canacona during the late 80’s through the Karmalghat stretch and through the Eucalyptus plantations on either side of the road at Paddi, small shops used to be seen catering to the weary travellers with tea and snacks/biscuits. As there was no proper place for having a break, this few shops at different places used to cater to the villagers going to town for their daily requirements and return journey by offering a tea break to them on the roadside before they could reach their respective homes without any fatigue or tiredness after a hard day of work.
It all began with the emergence of wild mushrooms which the locals used to pluck and sell on the roadside for money. This although lasted for few days only, it metaphors into a small hamlet of women selling their produce on the roadside along this road which became a necessity of life to sustain upon with the produce they could lay their hands upon from different sources in the forest region and also from their dwelling surrounding areas which they used to cultivate upon.
Concept of local market
Due to increasing demands and as the money started pouring in for their healthy produce, many travellers on this road started supporting them by buying local items from them. At this juncture, seeing this development taking shape and in order to support them, all the villagers came up with an idea to erect small bamboo structures for their women folks who were selling the said produce by squatting on the ground. Now armed with proper structure over their head, it gave a cover for them from the rainy days as well as sunny days which turned into a mini type market on the roadside for the cars to pull up and shop.
Items sold
Most of the sought after produce sold here could be counted to edible mushrooms (Roen Alami or Olami), Bamboos Shoots (Kheel), Raan Bhaji (various types), Citrus fruits of various kinds, dried Chillies, Tamarinds, Kokum fresh fruits and dried ones, Mango Pickles, Jackfruits, Coconut Oil, dried Mango and Jackfruits (Matt Pulp-Satt), Cucumbers (Thoxi), Akur, Thero, Talkilo, Mashkachibhaji, Zaad Allu, Kagna, Kate Kagna, Karane etc.
With the emergence of healthy diet and life simultaneously, everyone nowadays wants to have fresh local produce from forest land and which are free from any mal practice and which can harm them daily without their knowledge and create havoc in their family member’s wellbeing.
Thrust for market
It would be very much beneficial if such vendors who toll hard all the daylong by sitting at their shops get more permanent places in towns and cities so that the population here can also benefit from them. This move which is a long standing demand of such vendors shall bear fruits if all concerned authorities take a proper stand and support them for a good cause.
Avoid bargaining
It would be of much help as a human being, if we stop bargaining with the local vendors as they sell their produce to meet their ends with hardship known only to them and which we seldom never give a second thought to it. So the next time you go out to the vendors of local market do not start bargaining with them and they will appreciate your kind gesture with a smiling face and Dev Borem Koru.
(The writer is retired deputy director at department of Agriculture, who now handles translation division of Kamat Securities and is consultant at Agri-Horti Consultancy Services)
