PALAKKAD: Although the tomatoes in the market costs more than Rs 80 per kg, the farmers at Vadakkarapathi received only Rs 5 per kg.

'Uzhavar Chantha'(market) which was set up 16 years ago for the farmers to directly sell the products was closed down by the intermediaries. Vadakkarapathi is a village which uses water from tubewells for farming and produces good result.Uzhavar chantha was set up in 2006 by District Panchayat on 40 cents of land spending crores of rupees and constructed building. But the place was closed down soon after. Now it is the panchayat's waste segregation center.

The centre was closed down by the intermediaries as it reduces their profit. They accuse that the place of market is not favourable for commerce and has less transportation facilities.