Palakkad, 24 Oct (H.S.): An online marketplace launched by Keralassery grama panchayat in Palakkad district of Keralam is helping farmers and women entrepreneurs sell their products directly to consumers, reducing dependence on middlemen and allowing producers to set their own prices.

Named ‘Keralassery Chantha’, the initiative brings together local farmers and Kudumbashree units to market vegetables grown without toxic pesticides, pappadams and other traditional products. It aims to secure fair returns for producers while making locally manufactured goods available to consumers at reasonable prices.

Unlike conventional marketing arrangements, where intermediaries often influence prices and reduce producers’ margins, the platform gives sellers control over the prices they charge. Panchayat authorities said hundreds of products had been sold within days of the initiative’s launch, indicating encouraging local demand.

Keralassery grama panchayat president Febin Rahman said the project could strengthen the local economy by increasing the earnings of rural cultivators and women running small enterprises.

The initiative seeks to create a dependable market for locally produced goods by connecting producers directly with households. Bringing farmers and Kudumbashree entrepreneurs onto a common platform is central to the panchayat’s effort to expand their access to customers.

The app was developed with technical assistance from Mount Seena College at Pathirippala. Consumers can access the platform by searching for ‘Keralassery Chantha’ on Google.

Users must first register by providing their WhatsApp number, address and identification documents. Once the panchayat office completes verification of the information submitted, registered consumers can place orders for available products through the platform.

The registration and verification process forms part of the system established by the panchayat to facilitate transactions between local producers and consumers.

Following the encouraging initial response, the panchayat is preparing to add more products to the marketplace. The expansion is intended to offer consumers a wider selection while creating additional sales opportunities for participating farmers and Kudumbashree enterprises.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman