Agriculture minister at the Friday meet held on December 28 shared concerns about the Centenary Farmers’ Market (CFM) vendors trying to appeal to the prime minister for CFM management broad’s decision to increase the rental and store charges.

CFM board with the aim to improve the facility in the market recently approved the revised rental fees for the vendors and also approved the need to deposit nominal security fees along with an agreement for a year.

Agriculture Minister Yeshey Penjor said that CFM vendors approached him and he told them that the decision was made by the board for the benefit of the CFM and its vendors.

“The decision was from the CFM board and the representative from the people were also there. The market is not only for the Bhutanese but is also a place for the outside people to see and do business. So I clarified this to them,”the minister said.

However, he added that the vendors had approached the cabinet secretary to appeal to the prime minister.

“Holding the government responsible isn’t enough. The government has invested a lot in the market and we hope that the people also help and function with cooperation. Just with a small issue, the ministry doesn’t think it appropriate for people to approach any authority,” he said.

According to the new approved rates by the board, the monthly rental fee will come to around Nu 2,080.

Although the increase is about 30 percent, the actual increase is about Nu 20, minister Yeshey Penjor said.

The nominal security deposit for a year comes to around Nu 6,000.

Phurpa Lhamo