'FDI in retail will offer market, bring crop diversification'

Amid divided views on the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, farmers in Punjab, who have been supplying their produce to big companies like ‘Field Fresh, ‘Easy Day’ and ‘Tata Khet Se’ feel the move will ensure sourcing of farm produce in bulk and better pricing.

They were also of the opinion that it will encourage much needed crop diversification in the state.

"FDI in multi-brand retail will be a win-win situation for Punjab farmers as companies like Walmart may be buying produce like vegetables and fruits in bulk from growers and which will eventually turn out to be an assured market and ensure good price for them," Mewa Singh, a farmer from Jagraon near Ludhiana told PTI.

Singh said even without the Punjab government having to lay emphasis on crop diversification, farmers on their own will be encouraged to grow high value crops as desired by big foreign retail chains when they set up retail shop here.

Mewa Singh grows bananas over three acres of land and supplies bananas to ‘Tata Khet Se’ and ‘Easy Day’ retail store.

Jagdev Singh another farmer from a small village Dharamkalan in Malerkotla near Ludhiana said he is reaping rich dividends as his earnings have been remunerative compared to returns from conventional farming.

Jagdev Singh has been supplying baby corn and sweet corn grown over 15 acres of land and has been supplying crops to 'Field Fresh' for the past three years under contract system.