HYDERABAD: Rytu bazars were set up in the city so that farmers could sell their produce directly to consumers without having to depend on middlemen who take their cut. But judging by the ground realities, the purpose of these bazars is far from being fulfilled.A majority of the stalls in the nine rythu bazars in the city are being occupied by middlemen with only 25 per cent being allotted to individual farmers. This, in fact, goes against the rythu bazar norms that stipulate that 75 per cent of the space be given to farmers with the rest being made available for self-help groups. “The reality, in contrast to the guidelines, is topsy-turvy,” admits Mehdipatnam rythu bazar estate officer Alexander Manikyam. He adds, “As per the norms of the bazar, every dealer has to renew his/her license once in 11 months, but this has not been done even once since the setting up of the bazars in 1999.”This forces many farmers like K Komaraiah who comes all the way from Nagireddygudem village in Ranga Reddy district to lose out on the opportunity. The small-time farmer and vegetable seller says, “ Genuine farmers do not have stalls in the rythu bazar. We are forced to sell in front of the bazar due to lack of space inside.” Incidentally, when Komaraiah approached officials a place inside the Mehdipatnam rythu bazar, he was forced to go through a gruelling question session from the officials.There are many middlemen who have occupied 75 per cent of the stalls and they come via groups like Development of Women and Child in Rural Areas (DWCRA), Chief Minister’s Empowerment of Youth (CMEY), Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY). There are 80 groups at the Mehdipatnam rythu bazar and each group has seven to 12 members, Manikyam says.He explains, “Individual farmers cannot sell their goods on a daily basis at the bazar as they do not produce vegetables all through the year. Thus it is difficult to allot stalls to them. Further, they do not grow all kinds of vegetables that the customers seek. Some people ask for veggies grown elsewhere like capsicum and Agra potatoes in the summer season.” Superintendent of rytu bazars in AP, Mahammud Fasiuddin agrees and says, “There is 75 per cent direct or indirect participation of middlemen in the bazars and dealers of the stalls have not been renewing their licenses.” However, he adds that officials have sent fresh proposals for the administration of rythu bazars to the principal secretary of Agriculture Marketing and Cooperation KR Kishore. The proposal, which would come to effect in a month, will eliminate all these problems, Fasiuddin says.
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