Food prices, laborer wages fixed in Myagdi

It is still customary for the villagers to gather in one of the villages of Myagdi to fix the price of food and jam for the whole year and to buy and sell at the same price throughout the year. Darmija village in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-4 of North Myagdi is known as a well-organized village due to its tradition, customs, and unity of the locals.

The villagers take action if anyone violates the rules passed by the villagers and fixes the price at their own discretion.

Every year on the day of Maghe Sankranti, the villagers gather to determine the food produced in the village, transportation fare, and wages of the laborers till the next year's Maghe Sankranti.

Leader of the same ward Tabahadur Sherpurja said that those who voluntarily go against the decision passed by the village assembly will be subjected to social exclusion. Dhan Bahadur Garbuja, a member of the ward, informed that the price of food items and the wages of the wage earners have been fixed by the villagers during the Maghe Sankranti this year as well.

According to him, maize costs Rs 150, millet and paddy Rs 200, barley Rs 150, wheat and uwa Rs 200 per grain. 

Similarly, it has been determined that soybeans cost Rs. 400 per bushel, buckwheat Rs. 150, beans Rs 600, and potatoes and yam Rs 150. In addition, turmeric costs Rs 150, and Rs 130 for a jumbo bottle of liquor. 

It has also been determined that skilled wages per person are Rs 700, plough and cattle wages is Rs. one thousand. Ordinary farmers get Rs 500 while electrician wages per person are Rs 800. A carpenter and cement plasters are paid Rs 800 per person. 

Likewise, according to the appointed ward member Garbuja said local honey and ghee are determined to cost Rs 600 per mana while woodcutters will be paid Rs 500.  Ward Chairman Ruk Bahadur Garbuja said that this practice has been very effective in maintaining uniformity in all the goods produced in the village and imported from outside and strengthening the relationship between consumers and sellers.