Article: Contract farming: Green evolution ; Agriculture needs a revolution and India Inc growth ventures. If the Government removes archaic hurdles, rural India would blossom.

In 2006, Vikram Puri, CEO of Mahindra Shubhlabh, contracted farmers in Punjab to grow basmati rice for Rs 1,350 per quintal. Global demand, supply fluctuations and local speculative buying pushed the prices to Rs 1,400-1,500 per quintal and about 2,000 farmers in Jalandhar and Kapurthala reneged on their contracts, causing a loss of Rs 3.6 lakh in actuals and Rs 27 lakh in opportunity cost.

Rakesh Mittal, Vice-Chairman, Bharti Enterprises

Company: Fieldfresh FoodsCultivating: Babycorn, okra, peppers, lettuce and mangoesLand aggregated: 2,500 acresInvestment: Rs 170 CRORE*

*Total investment in FieldFreshThis is not just a basmati story; it's a tale about the chasm between hope and ...

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