Bharti agro biz eyes NE

The Northeast could play a very strategic role in Sunil Bharti Mittal's ambitious agro venture.

Mittal indicated today in Guwahati that the Bharti group was looking at contract farming linkages in the region as a part of its procurement policy from different locations in the country.

Mittal would be concentrating on developing the group's agro and airport infrastructure businesses in future as Bharti had already established its presence in all the 23 telecom circles in the country.

"Bharti is already shortlisted for the Delhi airport bid. It is also entering into agriculture," he said. Mittal said Bharti will integrate India with European agro-produce market.

"The business will look at starting contract farming initiatives, including in the NE, as a part of its sourcing strategy," he said.

According to him, the Bharti group would be looking to export fruits like pineapple and orange from the region.

"The average quality of fruits like orange and pineapple from the NE is good. Let us see whether we could start contract farming here," added Mittal.

In the first phase, Bharti might export only what was available in the country. In the second phase, it would put much greater emphasis on organic farming.

"The organic farming market is not very big but it is a high value business. Bharti might look into this in the second phase," Mittal added.

Mittal endorsed his earlier comments on Wednesday here by saying he was serious about the new initiative.