Integrated digital mechanism, grading launched for Keralam’s special Onam markets this year

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In a first, the Agriculture department in Keralam has launched an integrated digital mechanism at the special Onam markets that will enable prompt payments to farmers for their produce, and also grade the markets in terms of sales turnover and efficiency.

The integrated system was launched during the formal inauguration of 2,000 Onam markets here on Saturday (August 22, 2026). Vegetables and fruits are procured from farmers at a 10% higher price than that of the open market and sold to the public at a 30% discount rate. The markets were inaugurated by Agriculture Minister T. Siddique.

The integrated digital mechanism permits the department to keep track of all activities right from the procurement from farmers to the sales through the Onam markets. It also allows direct benefit transfer (DBT) of the payment to the farmers’ bank accounts without delay, the department said.

Special Secretary (Agriculture) T.V. Subhash launched the digital system.

The special markets are also being graded as ‘A,’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ in terms of their sales turnover and marketing efficiency this festival season. The grading is aimed at encouraging efficiency and building healthy competition among the markets.

Agriculture department agencies have opened 2,000 Onam markets across the State this festival season to keep vegetable and fruit prices stable.

Krishi Bhavans run by the department are operating 1,074 markets while the Horticulture Products Development Corporation (Horticorp) and the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) have opened 766 and 160 markets, respectively. For running the special markets, the State government sanctioned ₹10.74 crore this year under the scheme for market intervention support for price stabilisation.

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