BANGALORE: A public private partnership (PPP) to make money spinners out of the government- owned horticulture farms is in the offing. As many as 19 farms spread over 3,300.14 hectares have been slotted for the first phase. The tie-up could see these farms leased out to private parties for 20 to 30 years.
Horticulture Minister Umesh Katti on Monday told press persons that these PPP projects will be taken care of by a separate trust that has been set up by the department.
Three-hundred applications have been received in response to the expression of interest (EoI) sought for the 19 farms, he said.
The 494 hectare Dharmaveera Farm (Chikkanayakanahalli), the 430 hectare Dr M H Marigowda Farm (Koratagere) both in Tumkur district and the 355.02 hectare Mallasandra Kaval Farm in Mandya, account for the largest of these farms.
Depending on the local needs in the respective area, the private parties could develop these farms as parks or as showcases for rare horticulture crops or training centres or breeding centres, the minister noted.
The measure was envisaged as the department had no funds for the large scale development of its farms.
The terms of lease yet to be worked out, he said.
