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Sahayak

Tamil Nadu mandi guide (தமிழ்நாடு)

How to sell your crop, government rules, licences, and today's prices — free.

Information last verified: October 2026 · Always verify on the official portal before payment.

Regulated markets and Uzhavar Sandhai — selling in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu regulates about 280 markets under the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, and separately runs the Uzhavar Sandhai network where farmers sell straight to consumers with no commission agent at all. Koyambedu in Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode for turmeric, Madurai Paravai, Salem and Thanjavur carry most of the volume.

Market committee or Sandhai — Tamil Nadu process

Step 1: Decide the channel — Uzhavar Sandhai for retail-price realisation, a regulated market for bulk. Step 2: For the regulated market, register the lot at the gate with Aadhaar and land records and take the gate slip. Step 3: Sell through a licensed commission agent and confirm the weighment before the auction. Step 4: For Uzhavar Sandhai, apply to the market committee for a stall and follow the fixed-price display rule. Step 5: Keep the sale slip — it is the only proof if a payment is disputed.

Chennai, Erode & Madurai — local selling tips

Koyambedu is a wholesale hub, so a farmer from a nearby district often nets more at a taluk regulated market after transport is counted. Uzhavar Sandhai stalls are allotted for short rotations and demand is highest in the first two hours after opening. Erode turmeric is judged on curcumin and finger size, and the yard quotes 'finger' and 'bulb' separately.

Uzhavar Sandhai vs regulated market — which pays more

Uzhavar Sandhai removes the commission agent entirely, so the farmer keeps the retail-consumer margin — often 20–30% above the wholesale quote. The catch is volume: a stall sells a few hundred kilos a day, not tonnes, and unsold stock is your loss. Use Sandhai for graded vegetables and small fruit lots, and the regulated market for bulk paddy, sugarcane or coconut.

Main crops here
Paddy, Sugarcane, Groundnut, Turmeric, Banana, Coconut
Selling season
Kharif: Sep–Dec · Rabi: Mar–Jun
Who can sell
Any farmer with land records; regulated markets + Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers' markets) are common.
Where to register
Nearest Regulated Market Committee, or directly at Uzhavar Sandhai stalls.

Want to know how much money you will get by selling your crop? Calculate here.

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Three ways to be involved with a mandi

Tier 1 — Sell your own crop

Free · no licence needed

Any farmer with land records can sell own produce in a Tamil Nadu regulated market without a trader licence, or directly at an Uzhavar Sandhai stall. Bulk sale in the regulated market still runs through a licensed commission agent.

Tier 2 — Trade as licensed trader/agent

Licence required · fee varies

Trader licence under the Tamil Nadu APMC (Regulated Market) Act.

Tier 3 — Own a private mandi

Serious capital · for FPOs/investors

Private market licence under the TN APMC Act; fee + bank guarantee; 5 km rule applies.

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How selling actually works in Tamil Nadu

Uzhavar Sandhai lets farmers sell directly to consumers with no commission agent. For MSP paddy, register at notified DPCs (Direct Purchase Centres).

MSP procurement agency: Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) + FCI.

Legal commission rate: Market fee ~1%; commission varies by committee — verify the notified rate.

eNAM integration: About 150+ mandis integrated and growing — approx.

What they don't tell you — know your rights

  • • Coconut and copra price swings.
  • • Turmeric (Erode) quality/moisture-cut disputes.
  • • Uzhavar Sandhai space is limited — arrive early.
  • • Protect yourself: always take and keep the official weighment slip (parchi) and the auction bill for every sale — it is your proof in any dispute. Anything charged beyond the legal commission rate can be reported to the Market Committee.

Mandis in Tamil Nadu (6)

Koyambedu Wholesale Market

Chennai · Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers

DailyGuide →

Coimbatore Regulated Market

Coimbatore · Vegetables, Coconut, Banana

eNAM ✓Guide →

Erode Turmeric Market

Erode · Turmeric, Groundnut, Paddy

eNAM ✓Guide →

Madurai Paravai Market

Madurai · Vegetables, Banana, Jasmine

eNAM ✓Guide →

Salem Seelanaickenpatti Market

Salem · Turmeric, Tapioca, Pulses

eNAM ✓Guide →

Thanjavur Regulated Market

Thanjavur · Paddy, Banana, Coconut

eNAM ✓Guide →

Documents you need (Tier 1)

  • • Identity proof (Aadhaar / voter ID)
  • • Land records (for MSP procurement verification)
  • • Bank account details (for DBT payment)
  • • Token / registration slip where the state requires it

Check before you pay

Market fee ~1%; commission varies by committee — verify the notified rate.

Keep every weigh slip and bill. Confirm MSP for your crop each season before agreeing a price.

Sources & official links

For your state's APMC / Marketing Board circulars, search “Tamil Nadu agricultural marketing board official site” and verify the current notified rates.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Uzhavar Sandhai and how do I get a stall?
Uzhavar Sandhai is a direct farmer-to-consumer market run by the state. Apply to the local market committee with land records and Aadhaar; stalls are allotted in short rotations and you must display the fixed price.
How do I sell turmeric at Erode market?
Register the lot at the Erode yard and sell through a licensed commission agent. Ask for finger and bulb to be quoted separately, and confirm the curcumin and moisture reading before accepting.
Where do I register for paddy MSP in Tamil Nadu?
Register at a notified Direct Purchase Centre (DPC) run by TNCSC with land records, Aadhaar and bank passbook. Procurement is DBT-based and limited to the announced window.
Is there a commission in Tamil Nadu regulated markets?
Yes — market fee is about 1% and commission varies by market committee. Uzhavar Sandhai is the only channel with no commission agent at all.
Tamil Nadu mein paddy and turmeric kaise bechein? / How do I sell paddy and turmeric in Tamil Nadu?
Register with your land records at the notified mandi or paddy purchase centre (PACS) in Tamil Nadu. For MSP you must get the token/registration first, then sell within your assigned window. For open-market sale, go through a licensed commission agent in the APMC yard and keep the weigh slip.
Tamil Nadu mein mandi mein register kaise karein? / How do I register at a mandi in Tamil Nadu?
Farmers: register at Nearest Regulated Market Committee, or directly at Uzhavar Sandhai stalls. with identity + land records. Traders/commission agents: apply for a licence under the state APMC act from the Market Committee. Licensed private-mandi owners register under the private-market provisions.
Mandi aur MSP price mein kya fark hai? / What's the difference between mandi price and MSP?
MSP (Minimum Support Price) is a government-guaranteed floor rate for notified crops, paid via procurement agencies. The mandi price is the open auction rate set by local supply and demand — it can be above or below MSP.
Tamil Nadu mein naya private mandi kaise khole? / How do I open a new private mandi in Tamil Nadu?
Apply to the Marketing Board / Market Committee under the state private-market provisions: Private market licence under the TN APMC Act; fee + bank guarantee; 5 km rule applies. It is a capital undertaking for FPOs/large investors, not individual farmers.
Commission agent kitna charge le sakta hai Tamil Nadu mein? / How much can a commission agent legally charge in Tamil Nadu?
Market fee ~1%; commission varies by committee — verify the notified rate. Anything charged beyond the notified rate can be reported to the Market Committee. Always keep your weigh slip and the adat bill.
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