December 28, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 4, 1424

ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: A short-term marketing infrastructure plan is being prepared to solve marketing and storage problems of the agriculture production.

According to official sources the government wanted to create farmer-friendly atmosphere to encourage the growers to boost their production with full dedication and hard-working.

The role of middle-man should be curtailed to ensure maximum benefits for the farmers because he should be the main beneficiary of his products.

The private sector will be duly encouraged and helped to play its vital role in improving the marketing and storage mechanism benefiting the farmers.

Sources said all the relevant government agencies and banks would be instructed to extend required guidance and monetary assistance to all those interested parties who wanted to shoulder government responsibilities to enhance agriculture production of the country.

The availability of the adequate storage could be important for anti-poverty measure, giving farmers the ability to vary the supply of wheat in accordance with demand patterns, and avoiding the harvest gluts that reduce prices and the effective returns to farmers.

State Bank of Pakistan is also taking steps to facilitate the creation of storage facilities, directing the banks to provide loans to the farmers and flour mills for construction of godowns or silos.—APP