Horti-Business Management

Shandies

• Shandies are village level markets that are under the supervision of the local panchayats or revenue department. These are markets which emerge either once a week, or month or during festivals. They usually occupy an established place whether it is pavements or squares or streets. Sometimes they are specific to a commodity such as cattle or wool or festival and ritual needs. Most of the time shandies are not specific to a commodity but offer a wide range of products.
  
• The characteristics of such markets which brings them their popularity is that their prices are often lower than the prices in built-up markets. This lower price is possible because of low overheads in terms of building space and also because often the producers themselves are the traders.
  
• Most of those who sell in these markets have other occupations and therefore the income on "market day" is supplementary income. Grading depends of the sellers. Infrastructure facilities are poor. In most cases prices are not displayed.