Coimbatore: Alleging that uzhavar sandhais (farmers’ markets) are plagued with irregularities, a group of farmers have sought the state government’s intervention to rectify the issues.
Farmers affiliated to Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam appealed to the collector on Monday to identify the traders, who have infiltrated into the markets in the guise of farmers.
Starting from the cold storage facility, the traders have taken over the markets, the farmers said. “The cold storage facility at Singanallu Uzavar Sandhai is not accessible to the farmers. Traders, who pose as farmers, have completely taken control,’’ alleged the district president of the union S Palaniswamy.
The farmers said that electronic weighing machines at the markets should be properly maintained. “An inquiry should be ordered into shoddy maintenance of the machines and buildings. Price of vegetables should be fixed in a way neither the farmers nor the public are affected,” Palaniswamy said.
Alleging that upright and efficient officials should be appointed to manage the markets, the farmers also demanded that the district administration should ensure that there was no corruption in the name of maintenance of the markets. CCTV cameras should be installed in all farmers markets to prevent such irregularities, they demanded.
