Walmart may shop directly from farmers

As of now,90 per cent of the products at our stores are sourced locally. We are now looking at what can be exported and sourced from India for our stores in the United States and other parts of Asia, he said.

Raj Jain,MD and CEO,Bharti-Walmart,added that after textiles and towels,Punjabs farm produce could be next in their export plans. But this can happen only when farmers are able to produce quality as per the international standards. Punjab is the biggest state for our exports,which are currently to the tune of $125 million, Jain said.

Walmarts aim is to reduce food mileage. We ask the farmers to harvest the vegetables at six in the evening and they are sold at six in the morning. We are also providing training to farmers through monthly workshops, officials providing extension services to the farmers said.

However,the company has yet to introduce the latest technology such as ripening chambers and cooler vans to meet safety standards and cut down on the wastage of fruits and vegetables.

Five more stores planned in 2010

ZIRAKPUR: Bharti-Walmart plans to add five more Best Price Wholesale stores by this year end. Over the next three years,the joint venture expects to open 10-15 cash-and-carry stores and employ nearly 7,000 people. Its third store and second training institute will come up at Delhi while the remaining four are at various stages of construction at national capital region (NCR),Rajasthan,Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. ENS