The domestic floriculture market in the country has so far been dominated by unorganised wholesale markets or mandis but that is set to change now. To develop a local market and a supply base for exports, the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has begun with one of India’s most prominent flower points - Bangalore.

While the centre in Bangalore was opened this week, similar facilities will also be opened in Mumbai (expected to be operational by end 2006-07), Kolkata and Noida (expected to be operational by early 2008).

The auction centres are expected to help producers realise prices based on the quality of flowers besides reducing volatility in prices. It will also give the trade a more commercial, transparent and efficient framework and develop floriculture as an organised business in the agro-industry sector.

The auction centre will be able to accommodate more than 100 bidders and will have facilities for real-time integration of e-trading and online accounting. The auction centre is built on 5.11 acres with modern facilities, using passive architecture, energy-efficient systems, solar energy utilisation and automation for efficient handling of the flowers. The centre also has cold storage facilities.

The total cost of the project is estimated at about Rs 10 crore. APEDA will put in Rs.3.57 crore while the state government will pitch in with Rs 6.12 crore in the form of land (5.11 acre at Hebbal and Bangalore). Further, Rs 3 crore has been sanctioned under the ASIDE Scheme of the Centre, of which Rs 73 lakh has been released for creating state-of-the-art electronic auction systems and other flower handling equipment.

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