The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Organic fare delivery on your doorstep

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 04, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Organic fare delivery on your doorstep

B.S. Satish Kumar

Cooperative society of organic farmers, processors formed

The produce will undergo certification tests Two mobile vans will sell the items Plan to set up shops at apartment blocks

BANGALORE: There is good news for Bangaloreans who love organic vegetables and fruits. A cooperative society of organic farmers and processors is set to introduce door delivery of organic produce such as vegetables, fruits, rice and ready-to-eat food in select areas of the city from March.

Such a massive effort, covering different varieties of organic produce, is said to be the first of its kind in the country.

The Karnataka Organic Farming Producers and Processors' Marketing C-operative Society Ltd (KOFS) has already conducted a market survey to identify consumers interested in organic produce.

Consumer target

Society president T. Basavaraja told The Hindu that the society had set a target of catering to 5,000 consumers under its door-delivery system in the initial days. Most of those who had evinced interest in subscribing to organic produce were from the upmarket areas in the IT corridor of Hosur Road and Bannerghatta Road; besides Jayanagar, Sadashivanagar and Malleshwaram.

To begin with, the society will introduce 20 varieties of vegetables and fruits besides 10 varieties of ready-to-eat food, including baby food. It has plans to increase its menu to 200 items after stabilisation of its network.

In addition to door delivery, the society is also planning to set up shops at about 10 apartment blocks. It is holding discussions with some residents' associations to arrange for space within the apartments for sale of organic produce. The sales would be taken only during stipulated hours, Mr. Basavaraja said.

Sales network

Efforts are also on to introduce sales network at quarters of government staff including the HAL and Defence quarters.

The society will also introduce two mobile vans for selling organic produce. Plans were also afoot for tie-ups with other shops to set up a chain of organic outlets, he said.

All the organic produce would undergo certification tests by the prescribed agencies to ensure that the farmers had not used pesticides and chemical fertilizers, Mr. Basavaraja said.

Farmers enrolled

The organisation has enrolled 1,000 farmers and 5,000 food processors as members from the four districts of Bangalore Urban, Rural, Tumkur and Kolar for carrying out its operations. Of the 1,000 farmers, 250 are being involved in the first phase of operations. Farmers will be given 70 per cent of the maximum retail price according to the Societies' Act.

They would be getting 50 to 100 per cent more for fruits and vegetables under the society network compared with their earnings from inorganic produce. They would earn 25 to 50 per cent more for organic pulses, he added.

For details, contact Mr. Basavaraja on Ph: 9342646356.

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