Milk mushrooms and organic eggs sold at UAS hosts Raitha Santhe, a platform for citizens to connect with farmers. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Milk mushrooms known to have anti-hyperglycemic and anti-lipid peroxidation effects, organic eggs and baked goods from rural areas were among the many products sold directly by farmers at the Raitha Santhe organized by the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) at the Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra (GKVK) campus on Saturday.
Held on the last Saturday of every month, Raitha Santhe aims to give farmers direct access to the market while connecting them with urban consumers. This time, around 150 farmers set up stalls in the GKVK premises, offering fruits, vegetables and value-added products.
According to UAS officials, this helps eliminate middlemen and ensures better prices for farmers while providing fresh produce to consumers. “This enables interaction between farmers, consumers and scientists. It also helps us guide residents towards practices like home and terrace gardening,” said KP Raghuprasad of UAS.
Farmers selling milk mushrooms told The Hindu that the direct selling model has helped reduce losses associated with the short shelf life of the crop and ensured freshness for consumers. Santhe also featured products prepared by small food producers who said that participation in GKVK has broadened their consumer base.
“I have been coming here for over a year now and the response has been consistent. We are able to sell directly without middlemen,” said Harinatha S. Reddy, a farmer from Bagepalli, who suggested that more frequent markets would benefit perishable sellers.
Published – 24 Jan 2026 20:18 IST
