In a win-win situation for city households and the farming community in the State, the Horticulture Department is planning to set up 100 kiosks here.
Speaking during the inaugural session of Tamil Nadu Banana Festival organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, commissioner of Commissionerate of Horticulture and Plantation Corps, Dr Santosh Babu told Express the kiosks would be part of the Rs 17 crore peri-metro project which is modelled on the lines of a similar initiative in Bangalore.
He said the kiosks would be 250 sqft and each would sell up to 500 kg of vegetables. Babu said the project would benefit around 8,000 farmers. Customers will be benefited as they are likely to get fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices.
He said the project is a public-private partnership and the horticulture department has floated its own company Chennai Horticulture Produced Producers Company Limited (CHPPCL).
Babu said the initiative would focus on the clusters of farmers in Villupuram, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Tiruvanamalai and Vellore. The CHPPCL will have collection centres in the five districts. He said the tenders seeking private partners has been floated in this regard.
He said the National Horticulture Mission is also planning an initiative to send Dindigul produce to the northern belt.