Most of the Onam fairs under different agencies such as the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) and the Kudumbasree are also a means to make the rural produces with their distinct local flavour reach the urban space effectively.
“We have customers, who have faith in our products and come to us every year unfailingly,” says V. Syamala from Perambra, who sells arrowroot powder and a few home-made ready-to-eat snacks at the IRDP Onam fair at the Jubilee Hall here. The fair is also an opportunity for several beginners to test market their home-grown products.
People like T. Jeyesh from Vadakara, who has put up a stall for different variety of hand-woven textile materials, the fair is a great stage for showcasing the products he make and reach customers without middlemen. “I have buyers, who wait for my cotton bed-spread every year and I have sold around 70 pieces of them in just two days,” says Mr. Jayesh.
