RIL to invest in Punjab to procure fruits, vegetables

Chandigarh, May 8: The Reliance India Limited (RIL) has guaranteed to invest Rs 500 crore in the fruit, vegetables and perishable/retail sector in Punjab as an integrated part of its 'Super Mega Agri Project'.

With this investment, the Reliance has proposed to make Punjab its principle source of procurement of fruits, vegetables, milk and other agri-produce, which would be marketed all over the country through its retail network, a spokepersons of the Punjab government said here today.

As many as six hubs, including the one at Mohali, would come up as part of the RIL's venture in agro-business which would benefit the farmers of Punjab to diversify to horticulture with an assured market, the spokeperson said.

''Reliance will also provide inputs like quality seeds, fertilizers and pesticides as well as hi-tech facilities such as drip irrigation and green houses,'' he said.

The spokesman further said that the proposal of RIL had been discussed in the Empowered Committee Chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and RIL had given its long term programme details which would include 50 plus procurement centers all over Punjab and would also include big processing centres facilities for milk, fruits, vegetables and poultry.

''Once the project takes off, RIL would be purchasing perishable commodities worth thousands of crores from Punjab's agriculturists,'' the spokesman said.

The spokesperson said that land available with Punjab Small Scale Industries Export Corporation (PSIEC) in Goindwal, Malout, Muktsar, Mansa, Tanda and a few other places had been lying unutilised for the last ten to 15 years. The land represented a dead investment which was giving no returns to Punjab's farming community as so far no agri or rural-based industry had come up at all.

It would now be sold to RIL thereby giving PSIEC some return on its investment and would also benefit the farming community in the surrounding area besides, PSIEC would also get a lump sum payment instead of small installments.

The spokesperson further said that Panchayats all over the state were extremely keen that RIL should open procurement centers in their areas since the villagers in the proximate areas would benefit from remunerative crop returns and income.

UNI