Marketing is another problem which the local entrepreneurs and farmers in the state have been experiencing for years in their business venture. Despite the fact that these local farmers produce various seasonal horticultural products and the entrepreneurs manufacture varieties of food items, beverages, products of handloom and handicraft etc., their scope of marketing is limited due to lack of proper market place thereby disheartening them at times. “Your Choice”, a shopping mall exclusively for indigenous products of Manipur will help lessen the marketing bottlenecks the local farmers and entrepreneurs have experienced for years.
The new shopping mall “Your Choice” which was launched on Sunday at Babupara, Imphal opposite to BSNL office deals with only local products made by the entrepreneurs of the state.
An array of products ranging from local food products to handloom and handicraft, fresh horticultural products produced by the local farmers and entrepreneurs are made available at the shop. Here, Any Customer who loves local products can pick any item of their choice and buy it at an affordable price.
Fresh horticultural products of Mao farmers – Kiwi, Wild Apple, Tree Tomatoes, Gooseberry, Oranges, Potato, Reddish, squash, Likla juice brands of Thangjam Agro Industries, Pickles and candy of Meira foods, Lairikyengbam Kabok, Chini Chaphu, Bamboo shoot of Kwatha village, Packaged Ngari, Mustard oil of kakching farmers, Noodles prepared by Sana foods, Shougri Akangba, Mushroom, spices etc are available here.
Live “Naoshek”, a favorite food item of Manipuris used in “Morok Metpa” for special flavour is another attraction among the items displayed. Nowadays, “Naoshek” is on the verge of extinct and hardly found in the state. However, the new hub of local products tries to give the indigenous flavor of Naoshek.
The new shopping mall was launched by Dr RK Nimai (Retd. IAS), consultant to Government of Manipur as chief guest in presence of VK Dewangan, IAS commissioner of Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur, Joykumar, Dy director, Commerce and Industries, and Wangkhemcha Shyamjai.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr RK Nimai, said that the joint venture of four like-minded and courageous entrepreneurs – Thoidingjam Baleshwar, O Oken, Th Suraj and Th Sushil will help popularize and promote the indigenous products produced by the local entrepreneurs.
“Almost essential commodities and products consumed by the state are mainly imported from the outside. As such, a huge amount is drained away from the state in procuring the products from outside as the state lacks industries. Many entrepreneurs need to come out to strengthen the state economy”, he said.
While lauding the local entrepreneurs for their endeavour to create state’s own products as well as creating employment opportunities to many, he urged the entrepreneurs to initiate their business venture with a special focus on” import substitution” rather than exporting local products as for the present. Local products need to replace the outside brands to save the huge money wasted away in buying outside brands, he said.
Thoidingjam Baleshwar Chief Managing Director of Your Choice said the new business venture aims to help the local farmers, entrepreneurs who produce varieties of agro-based products and food items which are of high demand in the market. Farmers and entrepreneurs of the state have successfully produced varieties of horticultural products and food items. However, they are often discouraged due to lack of proper market place to sell their goods.
“With a view to solve the marketing problems facing the local entrepreneurs, some like-minded youths – Thoidingjam Baleshwar, O Oken, Th Suraj and Th Sushil put their heads together and decided to launch a market hub where all the locally made products would be available at the same place simultaneously”, said the IT engineer turned entrepreneur.
He said that people are happy to find the rare indigenous food item in package form. Around 30 plus food items, all indigenous are available in the shop. Mustard Oil of Kakching, dry Ngamu Leirou, Ngari, Soibum, Sougri, Soidon, Bamol Leikai Bori etc are among the items. One advantage of Your Choice variety is that all the items can be stored for at least one or two months. That means people living outside the state or country can also now enjoy food habit of their motherland, added he.
“ Now our farmers need not worry for marketing. We will market all the indigenous products of the state so that all farmers, entrepreneurs get their share of profit,” Baleshwar said while fervently appealing the entrepreneurs to supply their products to the shopping mall.
He also lauded the officials of commerce and Industries, particularly Joykumar Dy director for their help in successful launching of such a market hub for the local products.
