State to set up wholesale tender coconut market at Santhemarahalli

Mysuru: The state govt has decided to set up a wholesale tender coconut market at the APMC premises in Santhemarahalli, Chamarajanagar district. This will be the second-largest tender coconut market in Karnataka after the Maddur APMC market in neighbouring Mandya district.The govt has announced that the market will be established at a cost of Rs 5 crore in 2025–26.The facility is expected to benefit thousands of coconut growers in Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts by helping them secure better and more stable prices for their produce in the wholesale market.A large number of farmers in the two districts cultivate coconut in both rain-fed and irrigated areas, along with banana, vegetables, and fruit crops. Coconut plantations cover 13,135 hectares in Chamarajanagar and 12,127 hectares in Mysuru.Despite tender coconuts fetching Rs 50–70 in retail markets, middlemen often offer farmers only Rs 20–30 per piece. With growers incurring losses, there had been a long-standing demand for the government to open a dedicated wholesale market. Several farmers' organisations had also urged the district administration and local MLAs from Chamarajanagar, Kollegal, Hanur, and Gundlupet to push for the facility. The govt has now approved the Rs 5-crore project under RIDF funds at the Santhemarahalli APMC yard.Kollegal MLA A R Krishnamurthy thanked the state govt for fulfilling a long-pending demand of the region by establishing the market in his assembly segment.Speaking to TOI, additional deputy commissioner ST Javaregowda said former deputy commissioner Shilpa Nagaraj had recommended the proposal following repeated appeals from growers and farmers' organisations. With funds sanctioned under the RIDF scheme, instructions will be issued to the agricultural marketing department to expedite construction. Once operational, farmers will be able to bring their tender coconuts, participate in auctions, and sell directly, he said.The new market at Santhemarahalli APMC will significantly benefit growers in both districts, said Farmers' Federation vice-president Baradanapura Nagaraj.