Encouraged by good patronage for farm fresh outlets, the Department of Cooperation has decided to set up eight more outlets in Tiruchi city.
Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa inaugurated the first farm fresh outlet at Srirangam in the district through video conferencing in January 2016.
Since it received good response from the residents of Srirangam, a few more outlets were soon opened in the city, taking the number of outlets to nine.
To cash in on the growing patronage, the Department has now sent a proposal to the State government to open eight more farm fresh outlets in Tiruchi.
It is learnt that a Government Order to that effect will be passed soon.
K.C. Ravichandran, Joint Registrar of Cooperatives, Tiruchi district, told The Hindu that sites had already been identified for the new outlets.
Srirangam would have two more in addition to the existing one, he said.
One outlet each would be set up in K.K. Nagar, Tiruvanaikoil, Duraisamypuram and Karumandapam, Mr. Ravichandran added.
The establishment of an outlet was estimated to cost around ₹3 to ₹5 lakh.
Funds to the tune of ₹40 lakh would be sanctioned for the outlets.
2.2 tonnes a day
Mr. Ravichandran said that on an average, the outlets in Tiruchi sold 2.2 tonnes of vegetables and fruits per day.
The outlets had so far handled 1,500 tonnes of fresh vegetables and fruits. The turnover had crossed ₹2.25 crore since the first outlet was opened in January 2016.
