Jagiroad is a vibrant town located in Morigaon district, Assam, approximately 55 km east of Guwahati- the largest city in Northeast India. The town has a rich historical background, dating back to ancient times when it was part of the Tiwa kingdom. The region is known for its cultural diversity, with various tribes and communities coexisting harmoniously. One of the key economic hubs in Jagiroad is its renowned dried fish market, which plays a significant role in trade and commerce across the Northeast region.

The origins of this market are deeply intertwined with the historical, geographical, and economic factors that have shaped the region over the centuries.  Jagiroad is closely associated with Jonbeel Mela, a historic fair or market held annually at Dayang Belguri, 3 km from the town. This unique fair, held after Magh Bihu (in January), follows the barter system, allowing the exchange of goods between hill and plain tribes, although this is largely symbolic now.

Fish has always been an integral part of Assamese cuisine, and drying was one of the earliest methods used to preserve it, especially before the advent of refrigeration and seasons when availability of fresh fish is scanty. However, there are cuisines specially made out of small-dried fish which form the regular diets of the communities in the northeastern region of India. Communities living along the Brahmaputra and its tributaries engaged in drying fish to store food for seasons when fresh fish was not available. It is a key ingredient in traditional dishes such as “sukuti,” which is dried fish cooked with vegetables and spices. The high and sustained demand for dried fish in both rural and urban households ensures the continued importance of the Jagiroad market.

Jagiroad dried fish market rose to importance post-independence getting dried fish from all over the country. Dried fish comes to this market from Gujarat (traders call it Mumbaiya fish), Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Siliguri, Kerimganj and several other places. Some of the saltwater fish includes Bamla (Bombay duck), Chokia (dry hilsa), P & T (dried silver belly), Telas, and Kardi (dried shrimp). Some of the freshwater fish include Barb fish (Puthi maas), Ari maas (Aorichthys seenghala), Goroi maas (Channa punctatus), Rohu (Labeo rohita), Misa. Jagiroad remains the most important market that supplies dried fish to the entire northeastern region of India.

Nazrul Haque is a faculty at Azim Premji University. He is deeply associated with the development sector in the country, hosting the ​‘Stories of Change’ initiative for the last few years and active in various related platforms to contribute to the social sector ecosystem.

Amalendu Jyotishi is a faculty at the School of Development, Azim Premji University. His research portfolio includes natural resources & institutions from a broader institutional economics perspective.