THIMPHU, 29 April, 2021 (TON): Vendors are likely to move out from 1 July this year, as the Centenary Farmers’ Market (CFM) board is submitting a proposal to decongest the area.

The agriculture ministry is planning to convert the CFM’s ground floor into an aggregation centre for local farm produce from the 20 dzongkhags.

The upper floor would be a zone market.

Agriculture Minister, Yeshey Penjor, said if the government approved the proposal before or after 1 July, CFM vendors had to move out.

He said, “Risk of local transmission at CFM is high. The market is also dominated by vendors and not farmers.”

Vendors questioned how they could move out without a formal notice and complained there was not enough space for them in vegetable markets in the zones.

The minister said, “From July 1, new fiscal year starts and if the proposal is approved, vendors will have to move out anytime we get budget during the fiscal year.”

However, a formal notice would be given to the vendors if the decision is formalized.

CFM is identified as a high-risk area during the pandemic. Moreover, with increasing urbanization, population density at the CFM increases the burden on the city’s infrastructure.