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Punjab ties up with RIL to promote agri-business

Staff Correspondent

Small farmers will benefit in a big way from the new initiative, says Government

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Tuesday signed a memoandum of understanding (MoU) to promote agri-business as the industrial giant proposes to launch its ambitious "Farm to Fork" Agri Mega Retail project from the State.

At a function here where neither Chief Minister Amarinder Singh nor RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani was present, the MoU was signed by Punjab Financial Commissioner for Development (FCD) G.S. Cheema and RIL's Chief Executive Officer Sanjiv Asthana. Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Finance Minister Surinder Singla and Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Lal Singh and RIL's President for Corporate Affairs A. Shanker were among those present.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Bhattal hoped that this venture would change the destiny of the farming community, which was under stress. While the biggest beneficiaries would be the small farmer, a widespread retail food network would also come up, she pointed out, adding that the initiative would support grain procurement for the Central pool, provide warehouse financing to prevent distress sale at harvest time, promote education and health care and further strengthen infrastructure for improving the living standards.

Mr. Singla said that this new initiative would translate into rising farm incomes, large employment generation at the farm gate, a major export drive for selling the produce of Punjab globally, large scale credit access to the farmer with high quality banking and increase in farm productivity in fruit and vegetables, dairy and coarse grains. "This would further give an impetus to our crop diversification programme and enhance yields, as well as provide high quality farm inputs, establish a world-class supply chain infrastructure and promote food processing industry."

Unfolding the blueprint of the project, Mr. Asthana of RIL said the company would work closely with the agricultural universities, the Department of Agriculture and the Government of Punjab in implementing this initiative.

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