2,000 Onam markets planned under Agriculture department in Keralam

The Agriculture department and agencies under it will operate 2,000 Onam markets this festival season as part of efforts to keep prices stable.

The Krishi Bhavans run by the department will be operating 1,074 of the markets while the Horticulture Products Development Corporation (Horticorp) and the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) will operate 766 and 160 markets respectively, according to an order dated August 17.

The markets are being opened with a view to ensuring fair prices to farmers in the State and making quality fruits and vegetables available to consumers at reasonable prices during the Onam season, the department said. The Keralam government has sanctioned ₹10.24 crore for operating the markets under a Market Intervention Support for Price Stabilisation scheme.

Under the scheme, approved in July 2026, the government had sanctioned ₹20 crore to tackle rise in prices of commodities during the Onam season. For operating the markets, Krishi Bhavans have been sanctioned ₹5.86 crore, the VFPCK, ₹89.41 lakh and the Horticorp, ₹3.44 crore.

Ahead of Onam, the department had also launched the ‘Onathinorukkam Vilavinte Vismayam 2026,’ a campaign for ensuring the availability of vegetables. Agriculture Minister T. Siddique said on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) that 2.52 lakh tonnes of vegetables were produced under this campaign, which covered 22,137 hectares in various districts.