Farmers Demand Action Against Private Traders at RS Puram Uzhavar Santhai

Farmers have urged the district administration to take immediate action against unauthorised private traders operating at the RS Puram uzhavar santhai in Coimbatore. Agricultural producers requested that authorities intervene to ensure vending stalls inside the market are strictly reserved for genuine growers.

According to the farmers, private traders have occupied key vending spaces within the facility, preventing local growers from bringing in their produce and selling it directly to consumers. As a result of being displaced from the market floor, several farmers have been forced to set up temporary stalls along nearby roads, exposing their fruits and vegetables to heat, dust, and potential spoilage.

Banumathi, a local farmer, stated that selling produce along the road has created traffic bottlenecks while posing safety risks to farmers, customers, and motorists. She added that the presence of middlemen defeats the primary purpose of the uzhavar santhai scheme, which was established to enable farmers to sell directly to the public and secure better financial returns.

Highlighting the scale of unauthorised occupation, Banumathi noted that out of approximately 230 traders operating inside the market, hardly two or three are actual farmers.

To address the problem, farmers requested officials to conduct official inspections of vendor identity cards, clear all unauthorised occupants from the premises, and institute regular monitoring to prevent private traders from returning to the market.