BANGALORE: The city's flower
auction centre - the only one of its kind in Asia - is in
expansion mode. The International Flower Auction Bangalore
(IFAB) Limited, which auctions lakhs of flowers every day,
is all set to expand its activities with the opening of
six more centres across the state - in Udupi, Chikkanahalli,
Madikeri, Davanagere, Belgaum and Sirsi - for procuring,
grading and auctioning flowers.
The centres will work on the hub-and-spoke model, with Bangalore
as the auction hub and the others being collection centres.
K Ramakrishnappa, horticulture department director, said
lack of proper storage infrastructure was causing a 30-40%
wastage of flowers at points of sale.
Karnataka is the largest producer of cut and traditional
flowers in the country. However, the state's share in the
national and international flower markets is almost negligible.
To encourage floriculture in the state, the department will
also give a subsidy of Rs 3.75 lakh or 25% of the machine's
value under the National Horticulture Mission for primary
processing units, which are involved in packaging and grading
of flowers.
To expand business activity at IFAB, the horticulture department
will organize a buyers' interactive meet on Thursday at
the IFAB Conference Hall, KAIC premises, Hebbal. The meet
will focus on working out modalities for supply of fresh
flowers. Formation of buyers' associations to improve availability
of flowers will be discussed.
The meet will also have a discussion on measures to avoid
wastage. |
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