ITC plans to add 20,000 e-Choupals

ITC is looking at increasing its e-Choupal footprint to nine more states adding 20,000 more kiosks, and 10 million farmers to its network by 2010.

Currently, ITC's e-Choupal network operates in six states with 6,400 kiosks in 40,000 villages, covering 400,000 farmers.

The expanded network will include 1 lakh villages in 15 states. The company refused to divulge investment figures on the expansion plans.

"Currently, 40-50 per cent of our procurement of certain commodities comes from our Choupal network, and we are looking at taking it higher," said M Srinivasa Rao, head of new initiatives, ITC.

"We are also looking at expanding our Choupal Sagar network from 25 outlets at present in three states," he added.

ITC has tied up with 140-odd companies for selling their products at Choupal Sagars, informed Rao.

It is scaling up its Choupal Fresh outlets at existing locations, including Hyderabad, Pune and Chandigarh, said Rao. This apart, it is also in the process of expanding the e-Choupal network in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, together with Punjab and Haryana.

Punjab and Haryana will be crucial for procurement of Basmati rice, said Rao.

ITC is mulling entry into cotton and expanding its horticulture products' basket to add to its existing portfolio of soyabean, wheat, coffee, aquaculture, and horticulture.

Though there were no immediate plans to start e-Choupals in West Bengal, the state can, however, be a sourcing point for horticulture products in future, said Rao.