The Hindu : Karnataka News : Aid sought for improving marketing of fruits

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Aid sought for improving marketing of fruits

Special Correspondent

Better transport facilities, higher procurement envisaged

BANGALORE: The Horticulture Department has sought Rs. 120 crores from the Centre for improving marketing and transport facilities and procurement of horticultural produce in districts.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, the Minister for Horticulture, R. Srinivas, said the proposal was sent to the Union Government about a month ago. Infrastructure, such as procurement centres; grading, washing and packing units; refrigerated transport; and cold storages, was inadequate in many districts, he added.

Cold storages

The Government has decided to enter into a partnership with the private sector for providing cold storages in districts, he said. A plan has been prepared to hand over the cold storages located at Chickballapur, Bangalore Rural and Kolar, which are ready for use, to private parties. Cold storages in Mysore and Bagalkot are functioning well. Private parties will be roped in to manage some of the farms owned by the department. The department owns 400 farms spread over 42,000 acres, he said.

Officials of the department who are working on deputation elsewhere will be recalled and deployed at the taluk and hobli levels as horticulture assistants to provide information about crops to farmers.

As many as 786 horticultural assistants will be deployed at the hobli level, Mr. Srinivas said. The Karnataka State Agriculture Produce Processing Corporation and food processing and horticulture produces' cooperative marketing societies (HOPCOMS), which are under different departments, will be brought under the Horticulture Department.

A note is being prepared on the issue for discussion at a meeting of the Cabinet, the Minister said.

He said that three or four staff members are working as gardeners at each Minister's bungalow and they will be withdrawn. The department will post one gardener to each Minister's bungalow. However, the present arrangement will continue in the case of the bungalows of the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court and the Chief Secretary, he said.

Mango show

Mr. Srinivas said a weeklong mango fair, showcasing various varieties of mangoes and products made out of the fruit, will be held at Lalbagh from Wednesday. Growers and traders will sell 22 varieties of mangoes at the exhibition, he added.

The mango crop is 40 per cent less this season compared with last year.

With a view to diversifying horticultural crops in the State, the department has decided to stop distribution of mango seedlings from the next year. Seedlings of other fruits will be distributed at subsidised prices, he said.

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