Retail behemoths such as Wal-Mart, Tesco, Carrefour, and Metro may soon rely heavily on Indian fruits and vegetables, as the government seeks to improve quality assurance and speed of delivery. To ensure quality, the produce would be certified at the procurement stage. Hiring agencies for an overseas marketing campaign on Indian fruits and vegetables would also be increased.
In addition, the government is in discussions with the US-based Dole Co, a world leader in cold chains, to develop large cold chains to facilitate product supply. Research, product testing, and grading are also on the agenda. All of this to entice foreign retailers.
State governments would assist farmers by building high-quality infrastructure to encourage them to diversify into high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables, as well as other fields such as commercial dairying, food, vegetable, and fruit production. This could only be accomplished by providing them with guaranteed marketing and infrastructure facilities.
The ministries of food processing and commerce are collaborating to improve back-end facilities for retailers. "States have been asked to train farmers in export preparedness, quality standards, and harvest management practises," said a senior government official.