Govt plans export of flowers

Minister for Horticulture and Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) Shamanur Shivashankarappa said that a new scheme would be framed in which the State government would purchase flowers and fruits from the growers for export.

Inaugurating the Biocentre constructed at a cost of Rs eight crore here on Tuesday, he said, “Karnataka tops the country in floriculture. The area under floriculture is increasing every year in the State.”  The proposed scheme will help marketing of floriculture produce, he said.

The minister said that he had no knowledge of the plan to drop him from the Cabinet. “In that case I would go home and my helicopter is ready,” he said.