Ahead of Centre-farmers talks, Reliance clarifies: No plans to enter contract farming

Reliance Industries Limited has filed a writ petition against vandalism in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, claiming that taking advantage of farmers' agitation some vested interests have launched an incessant, malicious and motivated vilification campaign against the company, which has absolutely no basis in truth.

Reliance Industries has on Monday clarified that the company has no plans to enter the contract farming business.   In a statement, Mukesh Ambani's company has also clarified that it has not purchased any agricultural land for contract farming in Punjab, Haryana or any other part of the country.   The statement comes on the day the Centre and the farmers are to engage in the eighth round of talks over the new farm laws.

Reliance Industries has on Monday clarified that the company has no plans to enter the contract farming business.

In a statement, Mukesh Ambani's company has also clarified that it has not purchased any agricultural land for contract farming in Punjab, Haryana or any other part of the country.

The statement comes on the day the Centre and the farmers are to engage in the eighth round of talks over the new farm laws.

Clarifying its stand, RIL said that it does not purchase food grains directly from the farmers and that that it always insists its suppliers to abide by the MSP mechanism or any other mechanism for a remunerative price for farm produce as decided by the Centre.   Asserting that it has immense respect for farmers, Reliance said that it supports "predictable, fair and profitable price for farmers".  

Clarifying its stand, RIL said that it does not purchase food grains directly from the farmers and that that it always insists its suppliers to abide by the MSP mechanism or any other mechanism for a remunerative price for farm produce as decided by the Centre.

Asserting that it has immense respect for farmers, Reliance said that it supports "predictable, fair and profitable price for farmers".

Vested campaign based on falsehood Claiming that its Jio network has become a lifeline for millions of farmers and others across India during the Covid-19 pandemic, Reliance alleged that miscreants indulging in vandalism against its mobile towers "have been instigated and aided by vested interests and business rivals". Reliance Jio has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regards and sought urgent government intervention to bring a complete stop on the acts of vandalism. The Reliance statement also stated that the company seeks "significant augmentation of farmer incomes on a sustainable basis" and that it remains committed to investing in "economies of scale and creating world-class technology-enabled supply chains, which has brought significant gains to Indian farmers. 

Vested campaign based on falsehood

Claiming that its Jio network has become a lifeline for millions of farmers and others across India during the Covid-19 pandemic, Reliance alleged that miscreants indulging in vandalism against its mobile towers "have been instigated and aided by vested interests and business rivals".

Reliance Jio has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regards and sought urgent government intervention to bring a complete stop on the acts of vandalism.

The Reliance statement also stated that the company seeks "significant augmentation of farmer incomes on a sustainable basis" and that it remains committed to investing in "economies of scale and creating world-class technology-enabled supply chains, which has brought significant gains to Indian farmers.