This would benefit all stakeholders, specially the farmers and the consumers and would attract investment in Haryana, which accounts for 44 per cent of the NCR area and offers a huge market, he said.
"The opening up of retail trade would also boost investors' confidence in the Indian economy and would give necessary impetus to economic growth of the country," he said.
"The farmers would greatly benefit from direct purchase of the produce by retail chains at better prices," Hooda said.
The state government has already introduced enabling provision in the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act to facilitate introduction of supply chain and to develop network of agri-produce collection centres close to the farms where necessary infrastructure can now be developed in PPP mode enabling direct purchase by private sector.
Appreciating the safeguards that have been kept in the FDI policy to protect the interest of small retailers, Hooda said liberalisation would benefit the consumers and the purchasers against seasonal fluctuations and aberration in prices of agricultural products, specially vegetables and fruits with the development of supply chain infrastructure.
The investment in back-end infrastructure would not only give remunerative prices to farmers, but benefit rural economy and generate large employment for rural population, he said.
The Chief Minister said investment in organised retail trade by foreign investors would also bring in the latest technology in establishment of cold chains, preventing wastage of food due to lack of post-harvest infrastructure.