Market Mayhem Santhe stranded

By Y. Maheswara Reddy

Bengaluru: Raithara Santhe or farmers’ market at Yelahanka, which was set up to eliminate middlemen between the farmers and consumers, craves for attention of the authorities concerned. Around 400 farmers bring agricultural produce from nearby villages in Bengaluru Rural and Chikkaballapur districts to the market to sell directly to consumers.

When Covid 19 pandemic struck, the Santhe was relocated to Byatarayanapura to implement Covid protocols like social distancing and other measures. However, the new venue left a lot to be desired. It was located on a vacant land, and even after one year no basic facilities have been put in place.

“We are very happy with the agriculture marketing department for allowing us to sell vegetables, fruits and flowers here, but there are no basic amenities such as toilets, drinking water and food. We have to depend on the open place to attend nature’s call,’’ said Gowramma K, a floriculturist.

Though it is not fair to expect many facilities at a makeshift market, but the entire market becomes very slushy whenever it rains thus causing inconvenience to the consumers and goods vehicle drivers.

“I am paying Rs 3,000 for the shelter every month. It is affordable and I have no issues, but the authorities concerned have to take measures to level the ground to facilitate easy movement of vehicles that bring agricultural produce,’’ said Narayana Gowda from Hunasamaranahalli.

Meanwhile, Sridhara, marketing manager, Karnataka Agriculture Produce Marketing Department, has said that efforts were being made to shift the market to its original place at Yelahanka. But the present condition of Raithara Santhe at Yelahanka is also pathetic. With the market shifted to Byatarayanapura, no effort was made to keep the premises clean. Some of the roof sheets are missing and garbage has piled up at the premises.

“The agriculture department officials are not bothered to fix the problems at the market premises. There are more middlemen than the farmers in the market. We have been fighting against misuse of the market premises but in vain,’’ said VR Narayana Reddy, state president, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha.

Denying the allegations, an official of agriculture produce marketing department has said that farmers who have registered their names with the agriculture produce marketing department are allowed to enter Raithara Santhe at Yelahanka.

“We have allowed street vendors and flower sellers to utilise the facility at Byatarayanapura on humanitarian grounds. We collect the data on the number of vehicles, quantum of agricultural produce entering the market and send it to our higher authorities,’’ the official said.

The Raithara Santhe at Yelahanka was inaugurated by the then Minister for Agricultural Marketing Shivaraj Thangadi on July 23, 2010. The market accommodates 162 farmers to sell their agricultural produce. There is a warehouse facility for wholesale merchants. “There are five warehouses and those fetch a revenue of Rs 1.25 lakh per month (Rs 25,000 each) to the department.

Authorities should have ensured basic amenities - Kodihalli Chandrahekhar

I do not know why the state government has been neglecting raithara santhe (farmers’ bazaar) at Yelahanka. I also do not know what has caused the authorities to shift the santhe to Byatarayanapura.

If the authorities wanted to shift the santhe, they should have ensured that basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets and canteen are in place. It will be difficult for farmers, especially women, to sell vegetables at the new marketplace with no basic amenities.

I demand the state government to have raithara santhes at all wards in the city to enable the residents, especially those from middle-class families to buy vegetables from farmers without interference of middlemen.

The government should open raithara santhes as early as possible since it would be difficult for middle and economically-weaker families to visit supermarkets and malls to buy vegetables.

Raithara santhes will eliminate middlemen and help both - farmers as well as consumers. I also demand the authorities to repair the structure at Yelahanka on a war footing.