"The opponents to private players in agri-retail have understood that there is really no legal option to block the corporate ventures from accessing farm products," says the same bureaucrat. The monopoly of the agri-marketing department cannot be sustained, given that corporate players can buy from the wholesale markets or even buy the products in neighbouring states where the laws are more lax and bring them into West Bengal.

Retailers such as Reliance Fresh, the agri-retail chain of Reliance Industries Ltd, and the Indian cash-and-carry arm of Metro AG have been waiting in the wings for direct access to farmers for their produce.

According to an executive at Reliance, who did not wish to be identified because he isn't authorized to speak to the media, the company is all set to roll out about five Fresh outlets in Kolkata within a week.

To comfort those still fearing the entry of corporate players, the West Bengal government is launching its own agri-retail chain under the brand Bengal Blooms.
The first store is opening in City Centre mall at Salt Lake, the up-market eastern fringe of the city on Saturday.

Besides partnership farming, the amendments to the governing Act will facilitate introducing online spot trading in agri commodities and also the setting up of terminal markets in the state.
As first reported by Mint, the terminal markets will operate on a `hub-and-spoke' model, sourcing their produce from surrounding areas within 150km radius.

They will have collection centres (spokes) where the vegetables and fruits will be washed, graded, sorted and packed, before being sent to the hub with its cold storage, warehousing and ripening facilities.

Given the high level of technology required and the capital that will have to be pumped in, the project will require private investment, says Rajesh Srivatsava, managing director, corporate and commercial banking of Rabo India Finance Pvt. Ltd, which did the feasibility study for the project.