Bengal to launch home delivery of farm fresh produce

Kolkata, July 18 (IANS) Farm fresh organic produce at your doorstep is just a call away thanks to a chain of stores and home delivery services which will be launched by the West Bengal government in this eastern metropolis on Tuesday.

Christened 'Sufal Bangla', the initiative is aimed to benefit farmers through extension services and providing an interface between producers and consumers which would benefit both.

"There are no middlemen so consumers will get the produce at cheaper prices. One can check the website and order according to the daily price list," said an official of the state agricultural marketing department.

On Tuesday, 'Sufal Bangla' store in south Kolkata's New Alipore will launch operations with a list of seasonal fruits and vegetables, livestock as well as rare varieties of rice -- like brown rice, Dudhsar and Banskathi alongside popular options like Basmati and Gobindabhog.

The agricultural marketing department aims to open more such counters city-wide.

"Home delivery is free for orders of Rs. 500 and above and within 1 km," said a store official.