<p>The Horticultural Producer’s Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society Limited (Hopcoms) will be permitted to set up a mango purchase centre at Srinivaspur.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking at a meeting of the mango growers and traders here on Tuesday, C Somashekhar, Director, Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), said a sum of Rs five lakh would be released to set up the proposed purchase centre at the APMC yard in Srinivaspur. The meeting was convened in view of a direction by the High Court of Karnataka to provide suitable market facilities for the mango growers. Srinivaspur taluk is the largest producer of mangoes in the State.<br /><br />Somashekhar said one more purchase centre would be set up in the town, if required.<br /><br />Marketing cell<br /><br />Steps have been taken to set up a marketing cell in the APMC yard by deputing an additional director and a joint director. Both the officers will be present on all the days of trading to assist farmers. In addition, grievance redress cells have been established at three locations. The services of market assistants from eight districts have been requisitioned for the purpose, Somashekhar said.<br /><br />Several guidelines have been issued for the marketing of mangoes. Public auction of the produce has been made compulsory. The traders must issue a receipt and conventional white slips (generally used in markets) have been strictly prohibited. Directions have been issued to register criminal cases against traders who have not installed electronic weighing scales. In addition, about 15 weighing bridges will be set up in the market yard. A shelter will be constructed to provide a resting place for mango growers.<br /><br />Somashekhar disclosed that a private marketplace has come up at Byatarayanapura near Bangalore and 10 stalls will be provided there for the mango growers from Kolar district. He said setting up of a irradiation unit (which facilitates preservation of horticulture produce) is also under consideration.<br /><br />P Hemalatha, Director, Horticulture Department, said talks are on with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to allow farmers set up mango marketing stalls in the Palike limits, on a temporary basis.<br /><br />She said the avenues for exporting the fruit are also being explored and it is feasible to establish micro units which produce and sell mango slices. Crates will be supplied to the markets if the Mango Growers’ Association submits a formal proposal. The authorities at all the districts have been asked to organise mango melas, Hemalatha added.<br /><br />Commission menace<br /><br />M Srinivasan, APMC president, told the meeting that the traders collected 10 percent commission from him last year. “I have 40 acres of mango plantation. While selling the produce last year, the traders demanded commission and I promptly paid thinking that it’s a rule. Now I know there is no need to pay any commission.”<br /><br />Mohammed Amanulla, president of Mango Traders Association blamed the practise followed by growers for the loss of the produce. He said the growers, instead waiting till the fruits ripen, just pluck away unripened ones, transport and dump them overnight at the market. “Over 100 tractor loads of mango perished in a span of one week, last year, on account of this practice. Is it possible to buy such mangoes for a good price,” he questioned. He also disclosed that the mango trading began 10 days ago and by this time as much as 50 tractor loads of the produce have gone waste.<br /><br />Amanulla alleged said the traders were being blamed unnecessarily and sought to know why not a single grower had lodged a complaint against any trader till this day.<br /></p>
<p>The Horticultural Producer’s Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society Limited (Hopcoms) will be permitted to set up a mango purchase centre at Srinivaspur.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking at a meeting of the mango growers and traders here on Tuesday, C Somashekhar, Director, Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), said a sum of Rs five lakh would be released to set up the proposed purchase centre at the APMC yard in Srinivaspur. The meeting was convened in view of a direction by the High Court of Karnataka to provide suitable market facilities for the mango growers. Srinivaspur taluk is the largest producer of mangoes in the State.<br /><br />Somashekhar said one more purchase centre would be set up in the town, if required.<br /><br />Marketing cell<br /><br />Steps have been taken to set up a marketing cell in the APMC yard by deputing an additional director and a joint director. Both the officers will be present on all the days of trading to assist farmers. In addition, grievance redress cells have been established at three locations. The services of market assistants from eight districts have been requisitioned for the purpose, Somashekhar said.<br /><br />Several guidelines have been issued for the marketing of mangoes. Public auction of the produce has been made compulsory. The traders must issue a receipt and conventional white slips (generally used in markets) have been strictly prohibited. Directions have been issued to register criminal cases against traders who have not installed electronic weighing scales. In addition, about 15 weighing bridges will be set up in the market yard. A shelter will be constructed to provide a resting place for mango growers.<br /><br />Somashekhar disclosed that a private marketplace has come up at Byatarayanapura near Bangalore and 10 stalls will be provided there for the mango growers from Kolar district. He said setting up of a irradiation unit (which facilitates preservation of horticulture produce) is also under consideration.<br /><br />P Hemalatha, Director, Horticulture Department, said talks are on with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to allow farmers set up mango marketing stalls in the Palike limits, on a temporary basis.<br /><br />She said the avenues for exporting the fruit are also being explored and it is feasible to establish micro units which produce and sell mango slices. Crates will be supplied to the markets if the Mango Growers’ Association submits a formal proposal. The authorities at all the districts have been asked to organise mango melas, Hemalatha added.<br /><br />Commission menace<br /><br />M Srinivasan, APMC president, told the meeting that the traders collected 10 percent commission from him last year. “I have 40 acres of mango plantation. While selling the produce last year, the traders demanded commission and I promptly paid thinking that it’s a rule. Now I know there is no need to pay any commission.”<br /><br />Mohammed Amanulla, president of Mango Traders Association blamed the practise followed by growers for the loss of the produce. He said the growers, instead waiting till the fruits ripen, just pluck away unripened ones, transport and dump them overnight at the market. “Over 100 tractor loads of mango perished in a span of one week, last year, on account of this practice. Is it possible to buy such mangoes for a good price,” he questioned. He also disclosed that the mango trading began 10 days ago and by this time as much as 50 tractor loads of the produce have gone waste.<br /><br />Amanulla alleged said the traders were being blamed unnecessarily and sought to know why not a single grower had lodged a complaint against any trader till this day.<br /></p>
