Limping HOPCOMS goes for new stalls

Limping HOPCOMS goes for new stalls
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: On one hand, the Horticultural Produces Cooperative Marketing Society (HOPCOMS) opens new stalls, and on the other, several are closed down. This, despite the stalls selling vegetables and fruits at economic rates.

In the recent past, around 15 stalls have closed in the city. In Nandini Layout alone, out of three HOPCOMS, two were closed down in the past few years.

But the State Government has announced that under National Horticulture Mission (NHM), it proposes to set up 100 more HOPCOMS stalls in and around Bangalore.

The shops could not make profit mainly because of inconvenient timings for customers, and the locations, too, contributed for the sluggish business. According to officials, prospective future spots have been identified after a survey with help from local people and residents’ associations for setting up additional HOPCOMS shops.

HOPCOMS officials admit that for many decades, the stalls served the same customers. There is admittedly a woeful lack of promotional attempts. Lack of verve in selling and inertia of the marketing people, are pointed out as other reasons for the stale business. Keeping in view all this, the Society has plans to start three super markets to attract customers.

There are 318 HOPCOMS stalls in Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban and Kolar and 254 stalls in Bangalore.

HOPCOMS stalls open at 9 am to 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm to 9 pm and the fresh stocks start arriving only after 11 am. But most consumers prefer morning hours rather than evening for shopping.

Mahalakshmi, a housewife at 4th Block Jayanagar, for instance, said the HOPCOMS should work early in the morning.

‘‘I shop at 7.30 am and get vegetables from pushcarts. By this time, HOPCOMS do not open and I do not find fresh products,’’ she said. Many HOPCOMS customers wanted early morning opening. Similarly, morning walkers also say they could buy the day’s needs when returning from their walks, if the stalls open a bit early.

According to HOPCOMS officials, many customers have requested the Society to get the shops close to parks opened by 7 am.

‘‘In two places, near NH Pallya and BTM Layout, stalls open early following the request. We have plans to open other stalls in early hours,’’ said an HOPCOMS official.

Moreover, on Sundays, majority of the stalls remain closed, as no procurement takes place on Saturday. Just 30-40 stalls open on Sunday. But, there seems no immediate remedy for this issue.