Surat APMC to set up Rs 600-cr agro food hub

The APMC plans to to develop the terminal as agro food hub and has demanded 100 acre of land from government at Abhava village for the new complex, which it aims to construct within next two year after the land acquired.

The project will be funded through internal accruals. Recently, Yes Bank- consultant for the project has submitted a feasibility report. A detailed project report (DPR) will submitted by next month. The project will be implemented in a phased manner.

The APMC intends to implement the project on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. After detailed project report has been prepared, the APMC will invite proposals from private players. A delegation from the APMC will visit the Netherlands for purchase of machinery for the terminal.

"At present, we don't have the facility for grading, ripening and cold storages. The farmers will be able to get good prices through the facilities. These facilities will help farmers and we can arrest the wastage of perishable vegetables. The project will be developed as per international standards. As we have proximity to port and airport, we want this terminal to house export related facilities," said Ramanbhai N. Patel, chairman, APMC- Surat.

The terminal market will house a host of facilities including ripening chambers and cold storages, electronic grading lines for fruits and vegetables, central electronic auction system, electronic display boards for auction apart from online spot commodity trading platform, testing and certification laboratory, agri-clinic and extension services as well as information kiosks.

The APMC clocked a turnover of Rs 633 crore for 2007-08 and has set a target of Rs 700 crore for the current fiscal.