Name of the Trader:  Mr.Saji K.K.

Address:  K.K.S, Vegetable Merchant & Commission Agent, P1-22, 23, Agricultural Urban Market, Maradu, Nettoor P.O. Ernakulam-682304 Mobile - 9645994269

Profile:

Mr. Saji K.K. who is a very pleasant and soft spoken trader from Kurupumthura, Kottayam. But when it comes to the business one cannot stop him. He is a prominent person among the Merchants. He adorns many important roles here.

He recollects that he developed interest in this business in a very young age of 15. During his leisure from school curriculum, he started helping his father who was a vegetable vendor and small level commission agent. His father was well associated with many farmers in Kerala. Since the business yielded good returns for the big family of 9 members, Mr.Saji developed special interest in this business and along with his 3 siblings managed to carry forward it to a different level. Today he has become one of the successful Vegetable Merchants in Ernakulam and Maradu Market. The family owns around 6 stores in Ernakulam and Maradu Market combined and around 12 retail store in Ernakulam and Kottayam district. He started with about 6 vegetables like bitter gourd, ginger, snake gourd, lady’s finger, potato, etc. Today he has more than 30 vegetable varieties.

Procurement

Mr.Saji procures vegetables from different parts of Kerala and other major supplies come from Karnataka and Tamilnadu namely Mysore, Hosur, Kumbham, Theni, Coimbatore, Mettupalayam, etc. He has almost all variety of vegetables like Beetroot, Carrot, Brinjal, Giner, Green chillies, Bitter gourd, Snake gourd, Capsicum, Onion, and many more procured directly from farmers.

Facilities at Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market

The Department has provided equally divided store section with reasonable rent/lease option, wide roads, large ground, open parking space, etc. Labour and Unions are one of the greatest problem in Kerala. Fortunately unlike Ernakulam Market, the Unions had been strictly exempted from operating in the Maradu Market. Hence this was widely appreciated by the Merchants and became the ultimate convincing point to operate from Maradu. On the other hand, Unions are still aggressively trying every bit to make a soft entry into the market.

Mr.Saji owns 4 stores here and employs about 32 people who take care of the purchase, distribution, loading-unloading, sorting, etc. Like other merchants here, Mr.Saji also has employed a strong team of hindi speaking labours. Some of them are working with him for the past 15 years or so.

Association with other sectors

Mr.Saji find the various agriculture department initiatives very challenging and encouraging. He specifically mentions about the VFPCK and KVKs. These sections have come up with wonderful ideas and plans to associate the farmers with market. The farmers have benefitted equally as the Mr.Saji himself. He feels that Agriculture Department’s initiative to expand and develop the farming activities in rural as well as urban areas are actually opening more options for the merchants. He is quite relieved that they are never short of supply because they are aware of the stock availability status.  He is very happy that he became a part of TNAU and urges to give lead about product and procurement from Tamil Nadu. 

The energy of the staff is as high as their boss’s. Climate, political or even social disturbances are never a cause of concern to this merchant of K.K.S store.