Renovated HOPCOMS mart at Karangalpady market inaugurated

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 6, 2013: MLA J R Lobo inaugurated the renovated HOPCOMS mart (Horticultural Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society Ltd) at Karangalpady market on July 6, Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that establishing such a mart by the Society was a good initiative. Apart from establishing marts, maintenance of the same should also be given equal importance, he added. He also said Karangalpady market was one of the oldest markets of the city.

 

 

Joe Pradeep D’Souza, Managing director of DK HOPCOMS said that the HOPCOMS mart was renovated utilizing a sum of Rs 2.5 lakhs sanctioned by the government under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikasa Yojana.

There are only a  few people who grow fruits and vegetables in the district, hence such kind of marts encourage growers as they purchase produces directly from growers, he said.

HOPCOMS Manager Ravichandra Shetty said that the government had sanctioned funds for the renovation of 6 outlets in the year 2011-12 project, out of which 5 are complete. He said during 2012-13, the government had sanctioned funds for eight outlets out of which five have been renovated.

 Apart from it the infrastructural work of Banana ripening centre, cold storage centre, and procurement centre in Padil is in process, he informed.

Shetty said that as  the number of vegetable and fruits growers in the district was very less, HOPCOMS had to depend on growers of Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga and Bangalore.He said there are a total of 22 HOPCOMS outlets  in 22 districts.

 Stating that the HOPCOMS has received very good response from the customers, he said the HOPCOMS business has risen from Rs 4 crores to Rs 8 crores.

He urged the government to permit HOPCOMS  to purchase the products  directly from farmers and sell it to BCM and Social Welfare department Hostels, temples coming under Religious and Muzrai Department at competitive rates.

 Corporator Ashok DK, HOPCOMS President K Lakshminarayana Udupa, Vice President Panduranga Hegde and others were present.