A view of the Hosur Uzhavar Santhai

The first online Uzhavar Santhai in the state (tnsamb.com) is in dire straits. Intermediaries, local politicians and other vested interests in and around the santhai is working overtime to see to it that it doesn’t function smoothly.

Started on January 19, 2000 with 184 shops at a cost of Rs. 8 lakhs in 2.99 acres the santhai was a boon to small and marginal farmers from 232 villages in and around Hosur. They could sell their produce directly to the general public at a remunerative price without the intervention of middlemen.

Vegetable rates are fixed 20 per cent higher than that of the wholesale price prevailed at the Bethalapalli Wholesale Market and 15 per cent to 20 per cent lower than the local retail market with the consent of farmers at 4 a.m. every day. Immediately, the rates are updated online.

For the last sixt months the computer with broadband connection is not working. Employees are depending on private browsing centres to update the prices.

Average sale of vegetables at the santhai is around 102 tonnes a day. On an average 260 farmers are selling their produce on week days and on Sunday the number rises to 320. Of the 184 shops seven are allotted to Agro Services, two to IAMWARM farmers and two to TANWABI women SHG.

Farmers bring their produce to the santhai in government buses free of cost from 16 destinations.

A total of 1,435 identity cards were given to farmers. Of this, 12 were black listed after farmers complained about them. The Agricultural Marketing Wing has proposed to build 50 more shops. A total of 155 electronic weighing machines are installed at the santhai and it is proposed to add another 100 weighing machines.

Though private shops are not allowed to function within 100 metres of the uzhavar santhai, more than 50 vendors are selling vegetables within this limits. Many farmers allege that these shops are owned by relatives fo local politicians.

Of the five shops given to the Marketing Committee, one is owned by a relative of a local politician, two are vegetable shops, violating the government order.

Till October 31 this year, the number of farmers benefited from Hosur Uzhavar Santhai is 7,97,546, vegetables sold is 1,24,996 tonnes valued at around Rs. 110.28 crores, the benefit of consumers was around Rs. 2.1 crore.

A two-tonne capacity cold storage costing Rs. 6.05 lakh was built at the santhai on June 16.

T. Rajan, Deputy Director, (Agriculture Business) said: “The problems at the santhai would be sorted out soon.” He said collector V.K. Shanmugam has initiated steps through the Revenue Divisional Officer to convene a preliminary meeting of all concerned to sort out the problems.