M A I N   N E W S

Punjab Mandi Board chief backs FDI in retail
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24
Punjab Mandi Board chairman and Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) leader Ajmer Singh Lakhowal has supported the FDI in multi-brand retail in Punjab.

Talking to The Tribune on the phone today, he said: “I believe it will be good for the state, especially for farmers, if it is implemented by framing proper rules and regulations with the objective of safeguarding their (farmers) interest.”

The board manages all grain and vegetable markets in the state besides funding the laying and maintenance of roads in the rural areas of the state.

Lakhowal said he had spoken to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regard. “Our union leaders will hold a meeting in New Delhi tomorrow. We will also hold a protest to seek compensation for farmers hit by the recent drought-like situation. I will raise the FDI issue at the meeting,” Lakhowal said.

Lakhowal’s contention Middlemen will be eliminated from marketing Firms will purchase products directly from farmers Will boost efforts to diversify farm sector Retail chains can source items from Punjab to other parts of the world

Badal is opposed to the FDI in retail in the state, saying he will go with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), of which his party is an ally at the national level, on the issue.

But sources say Badal has been urged by various political leaders and others to review his stand on the issue.

Lakhowal said with the FDI in retail, the middlemen, who had been making hey by causing loss to both producers (farmers) and consumers, would be by and large eliminated from the marketing process.

Multinational companies, which look to set up multi-brand stores in India, will purchase food items, vegetables, fruit and milk, etc. directly from farmers to sell these to consumers at their stores.

It will boost the efforts being made to diversify the farm sector, he added.

Such multi-brand retail chains can also source many items from Punjab to other parts of the world, thus benefiting the manufactures, Lakhowal added.