Aiming to meet growing demand of flowers in Delhi and adjoining areas, the Haryana State Agriculture Mandi Board (HSAMB) plans to set up a flower auction house in Gurgaon soon.
The auction house will provide post harvest management support, with facilities like cold storage vans for transportation, help in packing as well as in import-export facilities.
The board has already identified an eight-acre site at Farooq Nagar in Gurgaon. "On the site, we also plan to grow flowers on 3,000 to 4,000 hectares of land. Through the auction house, we plan to facilitate the floriculture farmers of the area and meet the growing demand in this sector," said an official of the Mandi board.
He said latest technical know-how would also be provided to the farmers at a special training centre.
"The estimated cost is over 25 crore and the board will apply for funds under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM)," added the official. The expression of interest would be called for soon and the project will be completed in one year.
The auction house will have special cooling chambers, which will in turn provide optimal temperature for the storage of a large range of flowers. "Every variety has its own suitable post harvest time and temperature. The auction house would ensure that products do not perish and cause any loss to the floriculturists," said the official.
From Indian Express, April 08, 2008 Haryana State Agriculture Mandi Board (HSAMB) Plans To Set Up A Flower Auction House In Gurgaon Soon
