Hopcoms procurement centre, modern outlet for Uppunda

Karnataka Horticultural Federation Chairman Basavaraj R Patil said that a fund of Rs 40 lakh will be sanctioned to DKand Udupi Hopcoms towards the establishment of a procurement centre and modern outlet in Udupi.

He was speaking during the inauguration of Hopcoms Organic Amrutha Stall at Hopcoms market, Karangalpadi in Mangaluru, established by Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Hopcoms, Mangaluru on Wednesday.

The centre will come up in Uppunda Gram Panchayat limits in Kundapura taluk, he said. The ground breaking for the same will be held shortly, he added.

Meanwhile, Basavaraj requested Mangaluru City Corporation to reserve land to the Hopcoms stalls in Mangaluru. Mangaluru Mayor Kavita Sanil, who inaugurated the Amrutha organic stall and assured that she would do the needful.

Basavaraj R Patil inaugurated the organic vegetable section at the Amrutha Stall. Rastriya Sahakara Bharati Vice President Konkodi Padmanabha inaugurated the millet section. A section of Patanjali products were also inaugurated on the occasion.

DK and Udupi District Hopcoms President Lakshminarayana Udupa presided over the programme. Local Corporator DK Ashok, District Horticultural department Depiuty Director H R Naik and DK and Udupi District Hopcoms Vice President Harish were present.

Quality assurance

Speaking to DH, Dakshina Kannada Hopcoms, Karangalpadi Manager Ravi K Shetty said that the objective behind the establishment of the Hopcoms Organic Amrutha Stall is to provide reasonable prices to the growers of organic products and to make available the authentic organic products to the customers.

The Hopcoms procures the items directly from the farmers, saving time and money for the growers. This direct procurement will also avoid the intervention by middlemen. The organically grown products such as vegetables, millets, grains, pulses, sugar and jaggery are being marketed at the Amrutha organic stall of Hopcoms.

The farmers should be able get favourable price for the effort they have put in cultivating the organic products, Shetty said.

Hopcoms Organic Amrutha Stall

The stall covering an area of 600 square feet, offers a clean and hygienic shopping atmosphere where the customers can pick and choose the items as in a supermarket.

Computer bar-coding system is installed for billing. Amritha stall is built with a fund of Rs 4 lakh granted under Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana through Karnataka Horticultural Foundation. The fund is meant for the infrastructure development.

The Hopcoms Head Office has utilised an additional Rs 1.75 lakh from its own funds towards the stall. "The air conditioning system is not installed as we are keen on maintaining the natural environment. The air conditioned enclosure is not suitable for organic vegetables", Shetty said.

Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru and Udupi Prantiya Savayava Krishikara Okkoota CEO Manjunath spoke to DH and said that about 200 growers in various taluks of Dakshina Kannada have registered with the Hopcoms as organic farmers.

They are certified by the authorised certification agency KSOC, after an elaborate process comprising three stages. External and internal inspection will be done.

Visits will be paid to the fields and the warehouses as well, by the team from certifying agency to inspect the quality of the produces. If necessary soil will be tested for chemical contents. The growers are then issued certificates of one year validity by agency. Same procedure is repeated next year to ensure the quality.

Hopcoms stalls needed

Hopcoms, Manager Ravi K Shetty said that Hopcoms stalls in Bejai Kapikad and Kaikamba were demolished for road widening works. The stall in Hampankatta old bus stand area is being utilised by the MCC for the use of civic workers (for placing their equipment). But no new land has been sanctioned by the MCC for new Hopcoms stalls. A proposal to sanction the lands has been submitted three years ago.