Flower auction centres to come up in six districts of Karnataka

The move is also aimed at streamlining marketing of traditional flowers, a top official of Horticulture department said.

The main objective of the auction centres was to introduce a "rational, scientific and reliable" market system for wholesale marketing of flowers in traditional flower growing areas of the state, Horticulture Director Jayaram told PTI.

The centres would come up in Tumkur, Davangere, Udupi, Sirsi, Belgaum and Madikeri and Rs 15 crore has been earmarked under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for this purpose, he said.

The auction centres would protect farmers' interests from unhealthy trade practices and boost their morale and indirectly help flower cultivation to flourish in the state, he said.
Traditional flowers that would be auctioned in these centres are chrysanthemum, crosandra, barleria, jasmine, michalia champaka, marigold, tuberose, gaillardia, gomphrena globosa and button roses, Jayaram said. "Increasing demand for flowers and improved supply position due to better practices required a strong marketing medium which is the main reason behind establishing these centres", Jayaram said.

The auction centres will help farmers avoid post-harvest losses to the tune of 30 per cent and help save Rs 10-12 crore annually, he said.The project will help educate and enlighten the 1000 odd small and marginal flower growers about prevailing market rates in the state and even outside, he said.

Karnataka government has also set up an International Flower Auction centre here which is mainly into auctioning of 'First Red' variety of rose to Europe and Japan. Roses worth Rs 80 crore are being auctioned at this centre annually, Jayaram said.