Reliance enters Punjab dairies

NDTV PROFIT EXCLUSIVE

India's largest petrochem player will now also produce milk and in true Reliance style, the plans are big. Mukesh Ambani wants to make Punjab the agro retail nerve centre for Reliance's retail.

It's talking to farmers in Punjab, where it will set up 24 centres, which will support a similar milk marketing outfit in Gujarat.

But milk is only a part of a larger plan. In Punjab, RIL has picked up 2,000 acres of land in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amrtisar and Sangrur and is executing farm and retail linkages with local communities by collaborating with Punjab Agro Food Corporation.

Punjab will become RIL's agricultural hub, and fruits and vegetables from Himachal Pradesh and other states will come into these centres.

These centres will also help farmers get the latest technical knowhow and farm equipment through PAFC.

RIL will market farm produce at a pre-fixed price, through its super and hypermarkets.