The Horticorp, in association with Scheduled Castes Development Department, will launch mobile vegetable vending units in five districts in the state.
Five units each will be launched in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Palakkad as part of the livelihood project. The project worth Rs 1.64 crore is funded by the SC Development Department while Horticorp is the implementing agency.
‘’The project which would benefit 25 beneficiaries will be launched in May first week,’’ said State Horticulture Mission director K Prathapan.
‘’The beneficiaries have been selected by the SC Development Department and vegetables will be supplied by the Horticorp. The profit from sales proceeds will be shared by the beneficiaries and the Horticorp,’’ he said.
A single unit comprising an Ashok Leyland four-wheeler LMV, electronic weighing-cum-billing units and other accessories, including plastic crates and file systems, cost Rs 6,56,000. The units owned by the Horticorp will be operated in a franchisee model.
The Horticorp and the SC Development Department will also start Haritha vegetable sales outlets in all districts.
The Rs 2.34- crore project is funded by the SC Development Department.
The Horticorp will establish metal bunks and supply vegetables while the local self governments will provide land.