Vegetables Sale Deed

One of the important agreements, between the farmers of Sep and Durchen, and our school, regarding the sale and purchase of agricultural produce, brokered or mediated by Regional Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives Office (RAMCO), Mongar, reached on 12^th August 2013. For school, the present deed struck is the revitalization or reactivation of our long dormant deal which was signed in 2007. The agreement reached then ceased to function when farmers complaint of payment delay, low rate compared to existing market rate and when farmers denied to sell during dry season with their expectation to fetch promising prices in the market. It was undoubtedly, a clear breach of contract terms. However, passing this incidence through the magnifying lenses, the terms and conditions set then were observed too weak as it did not have legal backings. The mediators were also not involved while signing an agreement. Owing to these reasons, when farmers defied and carried loads of vegetables towards market through school, school assumed the role of a passive observer and at the most viewed them with green-eye.

However, the present bond has legal backings. The marketing and cooperatives officer from Mongar made it crystal clear to both parties involved, farmers group and school mess members, that the defaulter(s) must undergo legal proceedings as per the law of the Kingdom. The officer opened the floor for negotiation by pointing out the difficulties farmers undergo while producing agricultural produce and the meagre stipend school has at the moment. He urged parties not to be too ambitious by quoting the rate either high or low which may, directly or indirectly, adversely affect one or the other. He made his stand clear by informing the members present saying that his job was to create conducive atmosphere between dealers to reach deal amicably to the satisfaction of both parties.     

The rate for individual item was fixed based on consensus from both parties. Most of the rate quoted by two parties, coincidentally were similar. The bargain, negotiation, and argument related to fixation of rate occurred much less than expected. The officer in-charge praised both parties for efficient management of time by quoting reasonable prices, easily agreeable to both. He was sharing the instances of tough time reaching the consensus in other places.

The actual demand and supply curve, in our school, would flow with the cracking of dawn from 1^st September 2013 and this practice, without complaint and alteration of rate, terms and conditions, would continue till December, 18^th 2014. 

The rates for different items are quoted below:

Sl #	Vegetables	Fixed Rate
1	Potato	15
2	Cabbage	15
3	Beans	30
4	Sag	12
5	Squash	10
6	Radish	8
7	Pumpkin	7
8	Peas	40
9	Cauliflower	25
10	Garlic leaves	15
11	Brinjal	35
12	Broccoli	25
13	Pointed cord	15
14	Coriander (Bundle)	5
15	Carrot	30
16	Cucumber	10
17	Pear (improved)	40
18	Passion fruit	20
19	Chili	40
20	Bitter cord	20
21	Ginger	50
22	Tomato	40
23	Asparagus (Kg)	50
24	Peach (local)	15
25	Plum (improved)	15

So far, in our school, mess in-charges get nightmarish time especially during dry seasons, attempting to provide varieties to students without compromising the standard and quantity. It was frustrating at times, when we failed to see our wanted items in circulation or failed to procure due to unreasonably high price and when students failed to draw correlation, despite repeated information, between the market scenario and stipend they earn. However, with today’s agreement, our fear of not getting as per our demand, our fear of soaring prices which may compel us to compromise with quality and quantity, are permanently yoked out of our strained shoulder. We feel relaxed.

There is absolutely no reason, and it is totally beyond our doubt, why this present scheme should fail like the one in the past. School administration owes immense gratitude to RAMCO for this noble and cherished initiative.