UP mango belt to get agri mart soon

Trading in Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh's mango belt, is set to become easier with the state government proposing a world-class agricultural market replete with ultra modern facilities. The Uttar Pradesh Mandi Parishad has acquired 29 acres land for the proposed mall.

Traders will enjoy vapour treatment facilities and a mango pack house with international standards. Besides this, banks, ATMs, currency exchange counter, petrol pump, travel agencies, ticketing counter and cold storage would be the other additions.

According to the deputy director of the Uttar Pradesh Krishi Utpadan Mandi Parishad, SN Mishra, the proposal has been mooted keeping in mind the possibility of the export of mango from the Malihabad region. The state government has principally approved the project but a formal announcement is yet to be made.

While talking to the Business Standard, Mishra said that consultancy firms of national repute including, Agri Global of Mumbai was engaged to prepare the project and design of mall which has been completed now.

`We have worked out everything including the cost for the agri shopping mall and very soon work will be started', said he.

The mandi officials said that international flights to Dubai from Lucknow would be of great help to exporter once this hi-tech market is being constructed.

According to the officials at the Mandi Parishad the hi-tech market and mall will be developed in village Sarawan and Tikra Khurd of the Malihabad.

The state government has already provided 29 acres of land in these two districts with the help of the state government. As per the calculations of the mandi parishad it would take around 2 years for this market to become fully operational.

Like other projects in the recent days, this hi-tech agri market and mall too would be built on public private partnership basis. Keeping in mind the market feasibility, this hi-tech market will not only be restricted to trading Mango.

In the months of the May, June, July and August there would be brisk trading of mango from this place. Besides in the other months the market would be utilised for the vegetable whole sale trade, said an official.