Karnataka - Bangalore

HOPCOMS products likely to be branded

BANGALORE: Horticulture Minister S.K. Bellubbi on Tuesday held the first meeting of the Karnataka State Cooperative Horticultural Marketing Federation to discuss matters related to the Horticultural Produce Processing and Marketing Society (HOPCOMS), which was separated from the Cooperation Department and brought under his department recently.

Mr. Bellubbi, who held talks with HOPCOMS office-bearers including Sarvabhouma Bagli, MLA, and the federation’s Managing Director D.L. Maheshwar, said that the Cabinet had decided to develop HOPCOMS outlets to give an impetus to horticultural crops. It was aimed at achieving the twin objective of increasing the income of farmers and boost the supply of fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers.

The office-bearers had presented a 11-point charter demanding among others an increase in working capital so that HOPCOMS can purchase more produce from the farmers. They had also sought facilities for marketing, transport and processing of produce and export. They wanted cold storage and stalls in urban centres, which were flooded with produce from private players, he said.

The Minister said that the meeting had decided to have a brand name for HOPCOMS products on the lines of “Nandini” of the Karnataka Milk Federation. A team of officers had been entrusted with the job of selecting the name, he said.

HOPCOMS outlets, spread over 18 districts, had a turnover of Rs. 61 crore, he said.

Mr. Bellubbi said that HOPCOMS had not incurred any losses and Bangalore HOPCOMS had made a profit of Rs. 1 crore.

He agreed that the quality of the vegetables and fruits sold at the stalls was not up to the mark and needed to be upgraded.

Asked about the complaint that HOPCOMS officials were bringing vegetables from the market instead of purchasing them from the farmers, the Minister said that he was planning to make surprise visits.

Stern action would be initiated against erring officials, he said.

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