The regulated market trading of agricultural produce did not succeed much in southern Tamil Nadu though it was started 36 years ago with the noble aim of eliminating middlemen interference between buyers and the farming community and providing the best prices to farmers and quality produce to buyers. And now, agricultural marketing department has taken steps to reintroduce the initiative again in the region.
Trading of agricultural produce in regulated markets of agricultural marketing department was started in the state in 1979. In these markets, trading will be done based on auction method where traders and farmers will bargain the rate and farmers could sell their produce for the best price they are getting.
While the initiative has seen good response in northern districts, it has gone defunct in the south since farming community was not willing to try the new initiative.
Secretary of Madurai District Agricultural Marketing Committee J Thavasumuthu said after three decades the department was looking at prospects of reviving the trading in southern districts.
Rajesh Lakhani, secretary, agricultural department, is keen on promoting the initiative in the region. Madurai district collector L Subramanian is also showing lots of interest in this regard, according to Thavasumuthu.
"Some traders and farmers have expressed interest in restarting trading in regulated markets. We will start trading in Madurai, Tirumangalam, Usilampatti and Vadipatti regulated markets from the coming harvesting season. We are expecting that trading will happen on paddy, maize, pulses and banana crops. In fact, we are looking at restarting trading in regulated markets across southern Tamil Nadu," he said.
The department has called for a meeting of farmers and traders on June 11 to discuss this.