Kerala - Malappuram   

Horticorp outlets a huge draw

MALAPPURAM: The vegetable stalls put up by the Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation (Horticorp) at five centres across the district became a huge hit as people celebrating Onam turned up in hordes to buy vegetables at best prices.

No other shop in the district could provide vegetables to people at prices given by the Horticorp shops at Manjeri, Malappuram, Chelari, Kadampuzha and Vallikunnu. “The government subsidy is the biggest attraction of the Horticorp stalls,” said A.P. Abdul Wahab, Horticorp Director.

Horticorp became a unique venture across the State by procuring vegetables cultivated locally from farmers at selling rates. “We buy and sell at the same rate without taking any margin,” said Mr. Wahab.

Items like banana, elephant foot yam, ladies finger, bitter gourd, pumpkin and long beans were procured locally. “Most people are aware of the benefit of consuming local-grown vegetables. That’s perhaps why we have a great demand for local produce,” said Mr. Wahab.

While tomato was being sold at Rs.7.5 to Rs.9.5 a kg, potato cost Rs.17 a kg at the Horticorp stalls. Onion was sold at Rs.10 a kg; small onion Rs.13 and Rs.16.5 a kg; pumpkin Rs.10 kg; and ash gourd Rs.8 a kg.

The Horticorp shops made available longs beans at Rs.26 to Rs.29 even when the market price of it stood at Rs.35 to Rs.40. Lemon was made available at Rs.50 a kg.

Horticorp Chairman E.A. Rajendran has announced that a permanent procuring unit and 15 mini trade units of the Horticorp will be set up in Malappuram district.

According to sources, a Horticorp regional procurement centre (RPC) will be set up at Puthanathani, near Kottakkal, by the end of September.

When the Manjeri shop of Horticorp made the largest turnover, the other four shops too made good sale during the Onam.

The Manjeri shop had a daily sale of Rs.50,000.

The Malappuram shop sold vegetable for Rs.35,000, Kadampuzha shop for Rs.30,000, and Chelari and Vallikunnu shops for Rs.25,000.

Mr. Wahab said the motive behind making available fresh vegetables at reasonable prices was to drive home the idea that people, particularly farmers, could set up own markets during festivals.

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