The Hindu Business Line : Maradu agri-market records Rs 5-cr biz

The trading volume in the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market at Maradu, which had commenced functioning in June 2005, has started increasing as the market recorded a total business worth Rs 5.02 crore in the first nine months.

The District Collector, Mr A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, Chairman of the Maradu Market Authority, said that the highest trade volume was conducted for cereals and pulses, with business fetching Rs 1.32 crore for about 1,040 tonnes. This was followed by bananas (different varieties) recording Rs 1.27 crore for around 975 tonnes. Around 1,510 tonnes of vegetables, worth Rs 1.12 crore had also been traded at the market.

Fruits that included oranges, apples, sathukudy and so on have received a business of Rs 47 lakh on a quantity of 195 tonnes. Transactions of about 187 tonnes of spices worth Rs 42 lakh and 25 tonnes of oilseeds, including coconuts and sesame seeds worth Rs 21 lakh had been carried out at the market. In the beverages section, including tea and coffee, Rs 14 lakh worth business transpired for 25 tonnes. Around 55 tonnes of other food products, including rice powder and other packaged food items worth Rs 7 lakh were also sold.

The market has the facility to handle 2,500 tonnes of agricultural produce. The arrivals of vegetables were usually on Mondays and Fridays. Though most of the 136 stalls in the market were occupied, a few stalls will be retendered. A total of 85 stalls were given for domestic marketing with 13 for agri-exporters. But, only 59 stalls in the domestic segment are functioning at present.

The auctioning of agricultural produce will start in the market next month. The produce from farmers in Ernakulam district and neighbouring districts of Kottayam and Alappuzha can be brought to the market for the auction. Both the traders in the market and traders from outside can take part in the auction. The auctioning had already started at the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market at Vengeri in Kozhikode and the Rural Wholesale Market at Batheri in Wayanad.

According to officials, the market is in the process of setting up cold storage, warehousing and packing house for exports and a Rs 10-crore project has been submitted in this regard. Discussions are on to avail a subsidy of Rs 2.5 crore under the State Horticulture Mission, the officials added.