The expansion plans of Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) in Mysuru appear to have reached a dead end with the cooperative body failing to get suitable plots for developing new outlets.
If outlets can be established in new and upcoming localities, the society can increase its customer base and improve its revenue which is now affected because of the entry of many private players in the business. Most of the present outlets are located in the city centres and old localities. No new outlets have come up in the city for many years now.
Despite having a network with farmers who supply farm-fresh vegetables and fruits, the society was unsuccessful in its attempts to get plots for new and modern outlets since it cannot afford to establish outlets in private properties paying hefty rent.
The society’s first hi-tech outlet was opened at the city bus-stand premises several years ago. Similar ones had been planned with the Karnataka Horticulture Federation (KHF) providing funds to the society. The society currently operates 45 outlets here and had proposed to open at least 35 new ones.
In fact, some resident associations had approached the society with a request for opening its outlets in their layouts since the rate at which it sells its produce was lesser than the market price. The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) were unable to identify the plots necessary for the new outlets. The society is fully banking on these urban bodies for its expansion plans.
Many outlets are owned by the society itself and some are being operated on land owned by government institutions such as the MCC.
“Getting the land is itself a challenge. But the society has continued its efforts to prevail upon the MCC and the MUDA for the plots,” says Datta of the society, who supervises the outlets’ operations.
At the maximum, the society needs about 10 ft x 10 ft or 10 ft x 12 ft plots to build the outlets. But it has become difficult to get even smaller plots.
Mr. Datta said the society had proposed to start a few outlets for selling organic produce as well as selling different types of millets (Siridhanya), which is a trend among the health-conscious people. But these plans too had been halted for the time being. One such organic outlet will open soon at the society’s Siddharthanagar supermarket which has ample space for the expansion.
Besides the 14 hostels run by the University of Mysore, the society supplies vegetables and fruits to K.R. Hospital, Mysuru zoo, ESI Hospital, Ayurveda Hospital and other institutions.
