Stone laid for Rs. 2.35-cr modern ‘flower mandi' in silk city

• E-auction facility will be provided to flower growers
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana providing Rs. 1.62 crore for the mandi
• The flower market will be managed by the RMCS, Digapahandi    

BERHAMPUR: Foundation stone was laid for a Rs. 2.35-crore modern ‘flower mandi' at Ambapua area of the city. The ‘flower mandi' is expected to be a major transition point for flower growers and traders in south Orissa. Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy laid the foundation stone in the presence of Berhampur Sub-Collector Ajit Mishra, who is also the chairman of Regulating Market Cooperative Society (RMCS), Digapahandi. Work on this project is expected to be complete by the end of this year. After completion it is expected to be a flag bearer of floriculture in Orissa, said A S Verma, general secretary of the Ganjam District Flower Growers Association.

The ‘flower mandi' would have modern facility for preservation and packaging of flowers. “The greatest help for the flower growers would be the e-auction facility to be provided here as it will ensure good return for the flower growers who at times do not get competitive price for their produce,” Mr Verma said.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) of the Central government is providing Rs. 1.62 crore for the project. The rest of the amount would be RMCS, Digapahandi. The flower market is to be managed by the RMCS, Digapahandi.

Apart from flower growers of Ganjam, the ‘flower mandi' would also benefit flower growers of south Orissa districts such as Kandhamal, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Koraput.

At present lack of preservation facility is a major stumbling block for the flower growers of south Orissa. Scope of profit of their produce is also at stake due to lack of organised marketing facility. Both these stumbling blocks would get sorted out with the completion of the ‘flower mandi'.