The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Neighbourhood HOPCOMS to get complete makeover

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Friday, Jun 13, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Neighbourhood HOPCOMS to get complete makeover

Staff Reporter

The society is waiting for a grant of Rs. 5 crore from State

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Set for a new look: HOPCOMS stores such as this one in Basavangudi, in Bangalore, await a much-needed facelift.

BANGALORE: Your neighbourhood HOPCOMS outlet may get a swanky look shortly if the State Government agrees to fund the renovation plan. The Horticultural Producers Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) is all set to get a new look once the Government approves a grant of Rs. 5 crore for renovation purposes.

The plan is to renovate 300-odd old shops and to introduce 100 new outlets especially in new areas developed by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Apart from these, HOPCOMS also plans to introduce around 20 mobile vans to sell vegetables at the doorstep. A proposal to set up three vegetable supermarkets at Lal Bagh, J.P. Nagar and K.R. Puram is pending. The HOPCOMS is seeking funds in the form of grants under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM.

Not affected

HOPCOMS Manager (Procurement & Marketing) D.M. Subbanna told The Hindu that though new supermarkets have not affected business at HOPCOMS, the old outlets were to be renovated and new ones established to cater to the customers. In fact, he said, the BDA had already allotted around 20 sites for construction of the outlets, which would be taken up shortly. “Since Bangalore is growing, we feel that the market can sustain many players. So far, the advent of new vegetable vending chains has not affected the fortunes of HOPCOMS,” he added.

At present, HOPCOMS sells 90 tonnes of vegetables and fruits daily, while the amount goes up to 110 tonnes on Mondays. The daily transaction varies between Rs. 18 and Rs. 20 lakh. While more than 15,000 farmers in Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Ramanagara and Kolar districts have remained members of HOPCOMS, only around 8,000 of them are active.

Mr. Subbanna said that a survey conducted recently by HOPCOMS revealed that Bangalore can afford more spaces for vegetable outlets. “We find a huge potential in the present scenario, and HOPCOMS can survive by operating around 1,000 outlets,” he added.

HOPCOMS General Manager Bheemasena Bankad said that the unaudited profits of the society during 2007-2008, updated till February 2008, was around Rs. 1 crore.

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