Floral auction excels in Karnataka flower centre

The floriculture centre of Karnataka Agro Industries Corporation (KAIC) completed its 1,000^th floral auction on Thursday last. To promote sales of flowers, the auction system was put in place by KAIC in association with the south India Floriculture Association (Sifa).

The auction was launched during ’97. As the demand was so large since from August ’99 the corporation was forced to make the auction daily. The auction witnesses brisk buying mainly from in and around Banglore. Flowers from distant places are brought to this auction centre for sale. This is the only flower auction centre in India and South East Asia as well.

Flowers grown in centres like Banglore, Mysore, Koppa, Hosur and Pune are auctioned here, as also occasional deliveries of orchids from Himachal Pradesh.

Open cry method of auctioning has been replaced by a digital system. The digital system was in fact sponsored by the growers and buyers. Transaction volumes have risen significantly since the auction was started. In ‘97-98 the volumes were Rs 19.63 lakh, which have risen to over Rs 2 crore during ‘99-00.

During Valentines Day this year, the quantity of flowers sold rose to five lakh, showing a 50 per cent rise compared to sales during Valentines Day during ’99.

Market Update
(Flowers)