India: No takers for flower auction centre in Udupi
The centre, constructed under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, has 16 outlets to sell flowers on the ground floor, two farmers’ rest rooms, office of the Assistant Horticulture Director, a staff office, a mini hall on the first floor and a guest room.
As per the original plan, the centre was intended to serve flower growers of Udupi and neighboring districts. Since the neighboring districts had their own arrangements, the Department of Horticulture turned its attention to the flower growers of Udupi district.
But here, the department hit another roadblock. The flower growers of Shankarpura and nearby villages have their own network of collecting the tied jasmine flowers. The agents collect the tied flowers, fix the market rate, and distribute it to the towns in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The growers get a good price for it.
“The growers are reluctant to shift to the centre, despite cold storage and other facilities offered to them,” said an official of the Department.
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