Ambattur farmers market a non-starter

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Chennai: Ambattur farmers market, which created huge anticipation among the farmers in the beginning, wears a deserted look 13 years after it was inaugurated. The market, built in order to make the farmers meet the customers without a middleman, failed to please the farmers due to poor transport facilities and other practical difficulties.
"Besides, the Venkat­apur­am market remains open 24x­7, while the farmers m­ar­ket is open during a specific time in the morning and evening," he pointed out. Many of the farmers are from Thirumullaivoyal and other distant areas and they find it easier to reach the nearby Koyambedu ma­rk­et and sell their farm pr­od­ucts there, the official sa­id.
Ambattur chairman Jo­seph Samuel told DC th­at the prime reason for the low turnout of farmers was difficulties in transportation. "Sufficient number of officials are not appointed to regulate the market and many officers appointed for the work do not have the involvement to run the market," he said, adding that he would stage a protest after consulting the district secretary to revive the market.