With the State government agency Horticorp (Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation) failing to pay them on time, winter vegetable farmers at Kanthallur in Idukki have launched a ‘Chilla’ model farm produce auction centre. The new initiative was launched by the Kanthalloor Winter Vegetable Farmers Society on August 17. Chilla, an exclusive tribal market under the Marayur forest division, opens on Thursdays to sell tribespeople’s farm produce.
Society secretary Sojan P.G. said the new market would function every Thursday. “The market is running successfully. Vendors from Kerala and Tamil Nadu sell their produce here. Each farmer will be paid a day after the auction,” said Mr. Sojan, adding that the society will provide farm machinery to farmers with the assistance of Honda.
“Horticorp is yet to give the ₹8 lakh due to the society in the 2017-19 period. This Onam season, the Kanthallur farmers decided not to provide vegetables to the government agency,” he said. “Our plan is to develop a Chilla model tribal market like in Marayur that sells all produce from farmers.”
