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raditional markets have for the most part been part of my life. Having relocated into a market from being a street vendor, my mum once was a permanent occupant of a small traditional market in my hometown. She used to bring me along to her small stall while I was on holiday. In fact, every morning before school, I helped her bring her merchandise to the market. It provided the bread-and-butter income for my family.

I remember vividly the look of the dirty, muddy, smelly market. I remember the jostling throngs in the market, with old women donning simple kebaya with kain jarik (traditional Javanese cloth) secured by a stagen (belt) and men with sarongs wrapped around their bodies. The narrow muddy aisles were coated in a layer of slimy vegetable peel. In the morning, the sun would slowly creep over the shabby stalls, highlighting the cobwebs all around.

The smell of herbs from faraway stalls wafted through the densely populated market, mingling with salted fish, chicken and meat; the various scents permeated the poor enclave. The sweat of the coolies, the friendly faces of the vendors and the chatter of the consumers haggling over prices all marked this experience.

Most of the sellers and buyers knew one another as they came from neighboring close-knit communities. It was the first '€œglobal'€ economic transaction I encountered. The price depended largely on the law of supply and demand. Haggling, borrowing and lending were also part of day-to-day business in this small market. It was the local trade to sustain the livelihood of people in its economic chain: farmers, traders, housewives, craftsmen and simple eatery businesses. This is how most people in very rural areas buy and sell, and sometimes trade, in order to obtain the necessities of life. Thus, traditional markets are an important part of the economy in most of the country.

The man in the pale blue uniform of the Market Management Office would tour the market to collect the daily market service fees from the vendors. The price, in the 1980s, was Rp 500, which at that time was still enough to buy a bowl of chicken noodles.

Yet, despite the fees, the traditional market did not have any major improvements made to it at all. The market still looked shabby and smelled from the piles of garbage in every corner. During the rainy season, it got worse, because it became very wet and muddy with puddles all around. It seemed as though collecting fees from vendors was the sole occupation of the traditional market management, rather than properly managing the market.

Nonetheless, regardless of the poor condition and inconvenience, people chose to shop for their groceries in this godforsaken market because the prices were far cheaper than in the supermarkets. The comfort of the modern hypermarket denied customers the ability to exercise the art of haggling, as all prices were
fixed. Women, who are the dominant consumers, have this natural urge to sometimes mercilessly haggle to get the cheapest price possible.

In going to the traditional market, women often have the mission to save as much money as possible. So, going to the market can be a really daunting mission. The president-elect has vigorously been campaigning, saying traditional markets are of crucial importance to our farmers, as well as domestic produce. I hope his promise can be delivered soon. The modernization and revitalization of traditional markets, as well as providing easy access, is crucial to improve the welfare of farmers and any disadvantaged families who rely heavily on the affordable produce.

Yuni Herlina
Depok, West Java