Diversified firm ITC has said it is looking to more than double the number of farmers in its e-Choupal network to 10 million by 2022 as it gears up to expand farm produce procurement basket.

The company has been working with farmers in villages since 2000 through e-Choupal — an Internet-based supply chain in rural areas which plays a key role in sourcing of various agri produce.

Currently, over 4 million farmers are in the network.

“The government is talking about doubling farmers income by 2022, and in the same lines we plan to add 10 million farmers to the network (e-Choupal), which means we will not only see double income but also double the number of farmers,” ITC Ltd Group Head — Agri and IT Businesses S Sivakumar said.

Speaking to a group of visiting reporters, he said ITC has also planned to invest more into the agriculture space and help farmers increase their productivity by providing them with various resources.

ITC is getting into the next generation of e-Choupal and expects that its foray into fruits, vegetables and sea food will help it widening the farmer base with which it works.

Currently, the company has 6,100 e-Choupals and 24 rural hypermarts ‘Chaupal Sagars’ in 10 states.

It sources produce like wheat, soybean, coffee, shrimp, pulses, millets, barley, and jowar along with fruits such as mango, litchi, among others.

Apart from buying from the farmers, the company also provides them with mandi rates and gives them a choice to sell it anywhere.

Sivakumar said the aim is not only to double the number of farmers on e-Choupal but to also help farmers double their income.

ITC has outlined that every few months, it would bring in one more commodity to the market. Very soon it will launch potatoes in fresh under two forms — a low sugar potato and an anti-oxidant rich potato.

Moreover, it is also working on onion dehydrates, which it could introduce in the market by the end of this year.

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