Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation (Horticorp) will launch its Onam-Ramzan fair by the end of this week in all districts.
To meet the high demand of vegetables during the period, direct procurement of vegetables from farmers is going on in full swing. On Monday, the Horticorp added Kolanchery and Thiruvaniyoor panchayats of Ernakulam district to the list.
‘’Meat Products of India and Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation Ltd (Kepco) will be given space to set up their stalls at the fairs. We are currently procuring 51 varieties of vegetables from farmers which would be supplied at a subsidised rate to the public,’’ said Manoj Kurup, director, Horticorp.
Horticorp is gearing up to ensure that vegetable supplies are sufficient and their prices remain well under control during the festival season.
Kurup said that in addition to Idukki and Palakkad, direct procurement of vegetables was started from Monday from Kolanchery and Thiruvaniyoor panchyats in Ernakulam district. ‘’Already we have started procuring cool season vegetables grown in Vattavada and Kanthallur in Idukki district and Nenmara, Ayiloor, Kollangode, Elavanchery panchayats in Palakkad district by giving fair price to farmers. The price we offer to farmers is 10 per cent more of the price existing in the whole-sale market. In turn, it is sold with a subsidy of 30 per cent to the public,’’ he said.
The Onam season sees the vegetable cultivation touching its peak and this time around Hortocorp has ensured that local favourites are available in large quantities in Kerala itself. In view of Ramzan and Onam festivals, Horticorp has procured more than 600 metric tonnes of vegetables, including tuber corps, from April.
In Idukki, Horticrop is directly procuring vegetables, including carrot, cabbage and beans, from Swasraya Karshaka Vipanis with the support of Vegetables and Fruits Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK), which has a godown at Koviloor.
At present, the state-run agency has 98 stationary outlets across Kerala, of which 58 are in Thiruvananthapuram. Kurup said that other then the Horticorp outlets, the mobile vegetable stalls rolled out are also receiving good response. ‘’Requests are pouring in from residents’ associations to pre-schedule the location of mobile units in their respective places. In Thiruvananthapuram, eight units and in Ernakulam four units have been launched,’’ he said.
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