Modern flower market and training centre for floriculture inaugurated in Berhampur

A modern flower market and training centre for floriculture was inaugurated at Ambapua area of the city by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday. The project was aimed at promoting floriculture in six districts -- Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Boudh, and Nayagarh. It was established at a cost of Rs. 2.55 crore. Out of it, Rs. 1.92 crore was sanctioned under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojna and the remaining amount was invested by Regulated Market Committee (RMC), Digapahandi. Members of Ganjam District Flower Growers’ Association (GDFGA) welcomed establishment of the centre. They said it was their long- standing demand and finally their dream came true. The modern flower market at the centre would provide all facilities for proper marketing of flower collected from growers to increase their profit.

Flower grading

It has a receiving dock, flower grading area, modern cooling chamber for preservation of flowers, and a florist-flower distribution area. It has packing centre where flowers would be packed in scientific process so that they could be transported to far off places. The centre also has a dormitory for flower growers coming from outside, an auction hall, and a well-facilitated conference hall. GDFGA secretary Sridhar Verma said the flower market was on par with any modern flower market centre in the country.

Training

Mr. Verma said it was planned to train 5,000 farmers of six districts regarding intricacies of floriculture during the first phase. During the training, farmers would be trained in hi-tech floriculture. They would be provided indepth knowledge about plantation, micro irrigation, flowering plant protection, and their management by experts during the training process. Flower growers, who attended the inaugural function, felt the centre would give a fillip to commercial floriculture.

Source: The Hindu

Berhampur set to become a major flower trading centre

Source: The Hindu

With a major ‘flower mandi' coming up, Berhampur is poised to become a major flower trading centre of Odisha. Construction of a major flower trading centre at Ambapua area of the city is about to get completed. According to Ganjam District Flower Growers' Association (GDFGA), construction of the project is to end by June 15. GDFGA secretary Sridhar Verma has said the project will be a major fillip in the infrastructure development for floriculture in the area. This ‘flower mandi' is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.35 crore. The ‘flower mandi' will also benefit flower growers of south Orissa districts like Kandhamal, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Koraput. After completion, the flower mandi will have a receiving dock to get flowers from growers. The flowers collected will be taken to a grading area where they will be segregated in different groups as per their variety and quality. Samples of different groups will be taken to the auction chamber. Auctioning of flowers will ensure that farmers get good return for their produce. There will also be a packing yard in the flower mandi. Here flowers meant to be transported to other places will be packed scientifically. There will be scope for retail sale of flowers by growers at the spot. Recently the GDFCA has also submitted another project proposal to the State government for integrated development of floriculture units and flower farming community in Ganjam district. According to Mr. Verma the proposed project, worth more than Rs. 33 crore, is aimed at infrastructure development, cultivation of ornamental crops, protected cultivation of flower crops, capacity building of farmers and entrepreneurs involved in floriculture etc in Ganjam district.

Source: The Hindu