Fresh vegetables grown in Poanta will now find their way to Gulf countries and metropolitan cities of India through Wal-Mart and Reliance chain of vegetable outlets. Himalaya Fresh, the brand that earlier signified frozen vegetables marketed by a Poanta-based entrepreneur, has now entered into a contract farming agreement with Poanta residents for vegetable production and its trading through international chains. Himalayan International Limited, the company that owns Himalaya Fresh, has launched a Rs 3.24-crore project for contract farming of vegetables. With support of National Bank for Rural Development (NABARD), chairman Manmohan Malik has managed to rope in nearly 150 farmer families in the periphery villages of Poanta and Uttarakhand, who will earn about Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh per annum. In about two dozen villages in areas of Shivpur, Shubhkhera and Bhangani and Darkani in Uttarakhand, 260 hectares have been selected for producing 3,170 metric tonnes of vegetables annually. Malik says the first harvest would be in January next year. "Vegetables have been selected as per the international demand. We have signed an agreement with Reliance and Wal-Mart to sell vegetables through their outlets in metropolitan cities, while discussions are in progress to finalise arrangements for international marketing,' he said. Nearly 10 collection centres and a pack house with a capacity of 3,000 MT per annum will be set up in the area.