The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Fruit, vegetable fair price outlet opened

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Fruit, vegetable fair price outlet opened

Staff Reporter

Functioning on the Civil Station compound in Kakkanad

KOCHI: The Agriculture Department's Fruits and Vegetable Procurement and Retail Outlet started functioning on the Civil Station compound in Kakkanad on Monday.

The centre will procure vegetables and fruits from farmers and sell them at a fair price to consumers, according to N.Vijayan, Principal Agriculture Officer, Ernakulam. Produce from the local farmers will be procured at the centre at profitable price to the farmers. The fruits and vegetables thus procured will be sold at the outlet itself, accounting only for the handling charges and loss due to damage of the produce.

The outlet is the fourth unit of the Ernakulam District Karshikolppanna Sambharana Vitharana Kendram (Agricultural Produce Procurement and Retail Centre) in the district. Registered in 2003, the centre has three other outlets in Edakkattuvayal, Thirumaradi and Muvattupuzha. An apex body of the 15 Haritha Sanghams in the district, the centre has its headquarters at the EEC-aided Agricultural Rural Wholesale Market at Muvattupuzha.

The outlet was inaugurated on Monday by K. Babu, MLA, with Edappally Block Panchayat president P.M. Ikkoran presiding over the function. Thrikkakara Grama Panchayat president Sabitha Kareem inaugurated the first sale. District Panchayat Standing Committee chairman Anil Kanjili, District panchayat member M.E. Hassainar, Kendram treasurer M.A. Raveendran Nair and executive member K.P. Kuriakose also spoke on the occasion.

Brisk sales were seen at the outlet immediately after the inauguration. However, as the centre was just opening, the vegetables and fruits that were put for sale on Monday were brought from Muvattupuzha. The authorities expect more people to approach the centre for selling their produce.

The centre has been allotted Rs.25,000 as initial revolving fund for purchasing vegetables. The fund need to be reimbursed within 15 days and there is also provision for increasing the allocated amount in case of necessity, according to M. Laskhmi Devi, Assistant Director (Marketing).The centre was constructed by Nirmithi Kendra at a cost of Rs.2.31 lakhs. This amount includes Rs.1 lakh from the MLA Fund of Mr. Babu.

The remaining amount came from the Agricultural Department's fund. The centre, along with the other three outlets, is managed by a nine-member executive committee elected from among the members of the Haritha Sanghams.

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