Weekly market for organically and naturally grown produce opens at Ramanathapuram Uzhavar Sandhai

A weekly market for produce grown using organic and natural methods opened at Ramanathapuram Uzhavar Sandhai in Tamil Nadu on 2 November 2026. District Collector Sivaguru Prabhakaran inaugurated it and launched the first sale.

Market operations and purpose

The market will operate every Sunday. It is intended to give farmers practising natural farming a direct route to sell their produce to the public, without intermediaries. The Agriculture Marketing and Agri-Business Department cited rising awareness of the effects associated with chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and growing demand for naturally grown produce. The initiative also aims to support farmers’ livelihoods and provide consumers with access to such produce.

Important Facts for Exams

• Organic assurance systems: PGS-India uses farmer-group peer appraisal for domestic organic assurance, while NPOP relies on accredited third-party certification and supports organic exports.
• Tamil Nadu market regulation: Tamil Nadu's Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1987 provides the statutory framework for regulated agricultural markets, including market committees and trader licensing.
• Natural-farming practices: Natural-farming approaches commonly use on-farm biomass mulching, diverse crops and biologically prepared inputs to sustain soil processes while reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals.