'Contract farming' tie-up with Oman

Dubai: Oman could strengthen domestic availability of food grains by entering into "contract farming" with Indian farmers, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said. He said that agriculture is an important area for Omani government to invest.

"Indian law does not allow foreign companies to buy land there and therefore, Omani companies can enter into a contract farming relationship for producing the type of crop they want," Ahluwalia told Times of Oman during his recent visit to the country.

"We have identified from our side a couple of companies that have indicated that they would be interested in tying up with Omani investors to get into contract farming arrangement," he said adding that (Omani) companies can even specify the manner in which they want to produce the crop.