Reliance says not into corporate or contract farming

Reliance Industries has said that it is not in the business of corporate or contract farming and has no plans to enter this business, the Mukesh Ambani-led conglomerate said in a statement on January 4, clarifying its position in the backdrop of the farmers’ protest.

RIL said it is filing a petition later in the day at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking urgent intervention by government authorities to stop the “illegal acts of vandalism by miscreants.”

Farmers have been protesting against the three farm acts that were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020, as they fear it will hurt farmers while benefiting corporates like Reliance Industries. Earlier, some of these protestors allegedly damaged Reliance Jio mobile towers.

The protesting farmers would have discussions for the seventh time later in the day with the centre on resolving this issue.
RIL, which is seen as a beneficiary of the new act by the farmers, also said that it does not buy food grains directly from farmers and that it shall always adhere to the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism or any other mechanism implemented by the government to ensure remunerative price for farm produce.

RIL’s arm Reliance Retail sells food grains and staples, fruits and vegetables, among other products.

The company said that contrary to allegations against it, RIL and its affiliates are committed to doing everything to enrich and empower farmers and aim to build strong and equal partnership with them.