Pune’s Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) is setting up a flower mall, an initiative which is the first of its kind by any APMC in the country. The flower mall has been envisaged on the lines of of the FloraHolland in Aalsmeer — the largest trading centre for plants and flowers in the world — according to Pune APMC chairman Eknathrao Tile.
“The ambitious project has been in the offing for the last five years and picked up pace in the three years. A R 50-crore mall has been planned where the wholesale and retail trade will be located,” he said. “We have received clearances from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to set up a flower market, modelled on the Aalsmeer market of Holland. However, we are keeping in mind Indian conditions and requirements. The mall will house an auction house, grading and packing facilities,” he added. In addition, the eight-storey mall will also have 273 retail shops, exhibition centres, an auditorium, special facilities for exporters and cold stores where farmers can store flowers till they want to bring them into the market,” said Tile.
Work on the mall is expected to begin within the next 8-10 days and the mall will be completed in the three years he said. Since this is an infrastructure project, it will get a 30% subsidy from the Centre. Pune’s flower market is currently housed in a godown, where 170 traders operate and there is a waiting list of another 170 traders.
Pune region has about 45 polyhouses set up by private companies which are focussed primarily on the export market. In addition, there are over 1,000 farmers with smaller polyhouses spread over 5-10,000 sq ft. They cater mainly to the domestic market. Pune accounts for 70% of the total floriculture output in the country and the cut flower market in Pune has been growing at 25% per annum for the past few years.
The Aalsmeer market, is spread over 170 acres.Unlike the Holland model, here, the flowers will be raised at the farmer’s site. Only the auction, grading, packing and despatching to the airport, retail market or to cold stores in the basement will be done at the Pune mall.
The flower mall has also taken inspiration from the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB) Limited at Bangalore. The IFAB, which is a joint venture of public and private shareholders, was established in 2002 to exploit both the overseas and domestic flower market. IFAB has deployed ‘Dutch auction’ system in which the digital auction clock runs in the decreasing order and the price per stem reduces from maximum to minimum.
The minimum/ base price is fixed by the grower / supplier while the maximum price is fixed by IFAB, considering the demand for flowers. Only the registered sellers and buyers are allowed to participate in the auction.
In Pune, the authorities have planned for online auctions of flowers as well. The Bangalore auction is primarily run by private agencies. The APMC will run the show in Pune, Tile said.
A training programme has been planned for traders as well as farmers. The mall plans to house not only exotic flowers but also traditional flowers like marigold, mogras and roses which are used in Indian weddings and festivals.
The Pune District Floriculture Association, however wants the mall to be located at Talegaon, the hub of floriculture in Pune region. Talegaon has some 2,000 hectares under floriculture and does crores worth business on a daily basis, If the auction hall in located in Talegaon, it will be helpful for farmers as well as traders since it will save on logistics, Shivajirao Bhegade, president of the Association said.