COIMBATORE: Farmers have urged the district administration to take immediate action against unauthorised private traders operating in the RS Puram uzhavar santhai (farmers’ market) and ensure that stalls are reserved for genuine agricultural producers.The farmers alleged that private traders had occupied key vending spaces inside the market, preventing local growers from bringing in and selling their produce directly to consumers. As a result, several farmers were being forced to set up temporary stalls along nearby roads, exposing vegetables and fruits to heat, dust and possible spoilage.Banumathi, a farmer, said, “Sales along the road created traffic bottlenecks and posed safety risks to farmers, customers and motorists. The presence of middlemen defeated the basic objective of the uzhavar santhai scheme, which was created to enable farmers to sell produce directly and secure better returns.”They requested officials to inspect vendor identity cards, remove unauthorised occupants and introduce regular monitoring to prevent traders from returning. She added, “There are around 230 traders within the market, out of which hardly two or three are farmers.”The farmers sought transparent allotment of stalls, priority access for local cultivators and measures to keep market entrances clear.They warned that continued inaction would undermine farmers’ livelihoods and reduce public confidence in govt-run markets. They submitted a petition regarding this to the district administration on Monday to restore orderly operations. They stated that further inaction would lead to protests by them.
