Reliance, ITC to set up private mandis in Uttaranchal

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) Reliance and Tobacco major ITC are all set to foray into the agri-business in a big way in Uttaranchal with the state government offering bulk licences for setting up private mandis for a better deal to farmers.

Uttaranchal Chief Secretary M Ramachandaran told UNI that the ITC and the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Agro had shown keen interest in the project, which will provide a level-playing field to the government controlled and private mandis.

About 60 bulk licences will be up for grabs in the next month bidding in which Reliance Agro and ITC are dominant players.

''This will help the farmers to realise fair gate prices for their produce on the one hand and provide consumer quality produce at affordable prices,'' he said.

A Bill providing for setting up private mandis has already been approved by the state Cabinet. Besides private mandis, the Bill also envisages contract farming and constitution of a regulatory authority for the set up.

Mr Ramachandaran said agri-business, together with tourism and hydro power, was the mainstay of the state's economy. In agri- business, the focus is on horticulture, floriculture and vegetables.

The state government has also sought participation of private players in large scale cultivation of medicinal plants.

Mr Ramachandran said the state government would also launch Uttaranchal Agri-portal by the year-end for providing information to all the stake holders on day-to-day prices, trends and other useful date.

The state government and the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh have set up two Basmati Export zones in their respective areas. These zones cover districts which are located along the borders of the two states.

For giving a filip to exports, which are vital for generating employment and income for the state, the government has decided to set up medicinal and agro-food export zones and create its own dry port facilities in Dehradun and Pant Nagar.

A regional office of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade is also to be opened in Dehradun shortly.

The Chief Secertary said the Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, who visited Dehradun last month, had assured the state of all possible assistance for improving infrastructure facilities.

Pointing out that Uttaranchal had the potential to become the 'medicinal capital' of the country, Mr Ramesh said 10 herbs, including 'sarp gandha' and 'kutki' had been identified as having tremendous potential for exports.

About the new initiatives, he said plans were under way to develop specialised theme parks for promotion of agro and herbal products, organic farming and increasing investment opportunities in four agro-export zones set up for medicianl plants, litchi and flowers. In addition, 77 government farms have been leased out under the public-private partnership.

UNI SKS/NAZ PV BD1625