KFDC to launch 3 more outlets in city

Private agencies to manage new kiosks on a contract-basis: KFDC chairman

However, the KFDC will give the franchises to private agencies this time who will, in turn, handle these new kiosks on a contract-basis.

The fully air-conditioned outlets providing value-added fish products to the customers will come up at Kankanady-Valencia, Shivabhag and Baliga Stores in Bejai, KFDC Chairman Ramachandra Baikampady told Deccan Herald.

The KFDC has already selected three private parties in this connection. It will invest Rs 25 lakh on each of these outlets. Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) will be giving the technical support. “The KFDC will take up the whole responsibility of providing infrastructure at the kiosks. Fish is also supplied by us. However, once the set up is ready, it will be left to the private agencies to look after the business. They will get a specific percent of the daily turnover as commission,” Baikampady said.

The franchises are given to private people on the conditions of maintaining brand and quality as well as the highest sale. A KFDC staff will be permanently positioned at each outlet to supervise this. If the outlets fail to abide by the conditions, the contract will be withdrawn and given to some others, he added.

The State government has released Rs 20 crore to the Corporation for promoting fish kiosks across the State. As many as 50 such outlets are being launched. The works of kiosks at Puttur, Sullia and Moodabidre are under progress, he said. The proposed three one-stop shops in Mangalore will be the replica of the one at Chilimbi with state-of-the-art facilities for selling frozen sea fish, fresh water fish, value-added ready-to-eat products, ornamental fish, aquariums and their accessories, fish sausages and pickles etc. Following the demands from a section of the fishermen, the fish prices at the new outlets will be a little high from the existing one, he added.

CM to lay foundation for modern fish processing unit

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa will be laying foundation stone for the Rs 10 crore-project of modern fish processing unit at Hoige Bazaar on October 23, said KFDC Chairman Ramachandar Baikampady.

In the meantime, the CM will be inaugurating a fish dressing unit at Hoige Bazaar where two old buildings of the Corporation are located. It will provide new job opportunities for about 200 women, he said.

Both the projects are coming up after renovating the two neglected buildings at Hoige Bazaar.

The KFDC has already spent Rs 1 crore for improving one of them for the fish dressing unit, he added.


DH News Service