Kozhikode: Farmers keep off urban market

KOZHIKODE: The 10-hectare urban wholesale agricultural market at Vengeri set up with the financial support of the then European Economic Community (European Union) 14 years ago has found few takers among the farmers.   Out of the 102 warehouses,  only two or three are used by the farmers. A few others have been taken by private parties while the rest remain  closed. The market was  constructed  as a platform for the  farmers in the district to sell their products.  The government has failed to make any profit from the centre while the interest on  the aid taken from the European Union has been rising.

“It is now the 14th year since  the wholesale complex was built   but it has not met its aim,”  said Mr M. Radhakrishnan, a  member of Vengeri horticorps society. “The market has been misused by various people. Mr Pradeep Kumar MLA has been preparing  a master plan for the development of the market as per the direction of Agriculture Minister Sunil Kumar.    We hope  the farmers will be able to fully utilise  the property," he  pointed out. “Some  warehouses were planned to be rented out to  private parties, but  the agriculture minister  wanted to rent them out only to farmers,”  said Mr Pradeep Kumar.  A masterplan  will be  handed over to the minister’s office soon, he added.