Hooda launches barley contract farming scheme

Chandigarh, Nov 29 (UNI) A unique ''Contract Farming Scheme'' to give a push to agriculture and help farmers of Haryana, was launched today by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

The scheme, a dream of the Chief Minister, became a reality after Mr Hooda handed over the first Registration Certificate to Jean-Marc Delpon Devaus, Managing Director, SAB Miller India.

The scheme would be initially started on with about 2500 acres of land in 28 villages of Farrukh Nagar, 36 in Pataudi tehsil, 6 in Jhajjar tehsil, 4 in Rewari tehsil and 5 in Gurgaon tehsil for the year 2007-08 for growing barley.

Subsequently, it would be launched in other parts of the state. The contract farmers would be provided the highest market rates prevailing at the time of purchase with a guaranteed Minimum Purchase price of Rs 800 per quintal which is Rs 150 higher than the MSP of Rs 650 of the previous year.

It is worth mentioning that Contract Farming Sponsor Firm SKOL Breweries Limited, Mumbai, is a subsidiary of SAB Miller India, a Multi-National Company (MNC). SABMiller India is the Indian arm of SABMiller Plo, one of the world's largest brewers with brewing interests or major distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents.

With ten high quality breweries located strategically across India, SABMiller is well placed to service the markets quickly and efficiently with a workforce of over 2500 people.

The company has created the first brewery in Andhra Pradesh with over 100 millions litre capacity, which is twice the size of the second largest brewery in the country. SABMiller India offers popular brands like, Foster's Castle lager, Hayward's 5000, Hayward's Black, Knock Out and Royal Challenge.

Explaining the concept, Mr Hooda informed that in the Contract Farming Scheme, the producer farmers and the buying firm sign an agreement for the purchase of commodity. The Sponsoring Firm will indicate the quantity and quality of the commodity and rates of the intended produce will be agreed by both the parties at the time of sowing and will be mentioned in the agreement.

The Chief Minister said the Sponsoring Firm would provide inputs to the farmers in the shape of certified quality seeds, techniques and technology and also other related services. The farmer in turn will grow the better-specified quality of produce and shall have better rate of his produce, which will not be below the market rates. Contract farming sponsor shall submit annual account every year, he said.

The premises of the contract farming sponsor shall be deemed to be a declared market yard for purchase of contract farming produce.

In order to protect the interest of the farmers a provision has been mentioned in the scheme that the sponsoring firm shall deposit an amount equivalent to the 15 per cent of the total price of the agricultural produce on the agreed rate as security with the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board (HSAMB) and Market Committees.

Mr Jean-Marc Delpon Devaus, Managing Director, SABMiller India, lauded the state government's role and reiterated his company's commitment towards improving barley farming in the State.

UNI