Finding the mobile vegetable outlets of the Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation (Horticorp) a big hit here, the Agriculture Department is rolling out similar shops-on-wheels across the state. As a first step, the Horticorp will introduce the facility in Ernakulam, Kottayam and Kozhikode districts.
“The services of the mobile outlets will be extended to other districts also in a phased manner,” Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan said. Horticorp had rolled out four mobile outlets in Thiruvananthapuram in May, for selling 44 vegetables at 30 per cent reduced price.
This was part of an initiative to check the soaring vegetables prices. Focusing on government offices, residential areas and other public places, the vehicles proved to be such a tremendous hit that Horticorp applied for four more vehicles to handle the demand. K P Mohanan told the Assembly on Tuesday that various government agencies were running outlets to make vegetables available at a fair price.
The Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) operated 25 outlets and Horticorp, 98. The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation was running 26 stalls.