Date:24/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/24/stories/2006042400890500.htm

Back Agro Tech mulls corn contract farming

K.V. Kurmanath

Hyderabad , April 23

Agro Tech Foods Ltd, the Rs 1,260-crore edible oil and branded foods sector, is planning to go for contract farming to produce sweet corn.

According to Mr Atul Sinha, Vice-President (Marketing and Sales), the company would like to experiment in 100 acres this year (most likely in Warangal district) and expand the acreage in future.

For in-house use

The company would use the entire produce for in-house use for its vending initiative. The ACT II brand of vending popcorn was being taken to more and more locations.

"We will experiment in 100 acres this kharif season. We will extend this further in rabi season which is more suitable for producing corn," Mr Navnit Singh, Senior Manager (Trading - Oil and Grains), told Business Line.

Mr Atul Sinha, who addressed a national seminar on `Agri and processed food exports - emerging trends' here at FAPCCI, said it was important to have proper regulatory mechanism, infrastructure and well-knit supply chain. Terming the present supply chain mechanism archaic, he said it was quite long and fragmented.