MUMBAI: Mumbai’s first
flower auction centre, that promises to place the financial
capital on international flower trade map, is complete and
ready for inauguration.
The new centre will provide flower growers from south Gujarat
and Maharashtra, a state of the art platform to trade range
of flowers including — rose, chrysanthemum, marigold,
jasmine, astergladious, zinnia, lilies, gerberas and carnation.
As reported by ET, first daily operations at the centre
will be on digital and e-system to be interlinked to other
markets in Bangalore and Delhi. The auction house provides
for two auctions for 56 buyers to bid for both auctions
and is expandable to 112 participants in this procedure.
According to Amar Pandey, project in charge for this centre,
the centre will make a whole lot of difference to ways flowers
are traded now. “At present all flowers are auctioned
in Dadar market which is most unhygienic place. Once the
centre begins its operations flower stocks will come here.
The centre offers facilities no commodity ever has enjoyed
in the country,” he claimed.
The centre will have storage capacity of 14 lakh flower
stems per day. It is expected to attain its capacity within
three years of its operation. First year it will run with
60% capacity. The buyers will get exact quality and quantity
of flowers and growers will get the best price. The centre
also has 17 shops for retail shopping, cold storage facilities
and separate lobby only for visitors.
Jointly developed by Maharashtra Agro Industry Corporation
(MAIDC) and the Agriculture Produce Export Development Authority
(APEDA) at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 25 crore,
the centre is expected to contribute significantly for the
growth of the flower market.
Talking to ET MAIDC managing director Pradeep Vyas said,
“Objective of this centre is growth of flower industry
through better farming and storage practices, marketing
and other logistics related areas. The development will
also enhance the foreign exchange earnings.”
It will boost the state’s progressive horticulture
sector too. The area under floriculture in Maharashtra is
14,929 hectares under open cultivation and 259 hectares
in green house. The flower production in open field is 79,804
tonnes and in green house it is 541,690 stems.
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