LAHORE, Oct 18: Only the private sector can provide all services and facilities to farmers under one-roof as the government seems unable to bridge a gap in the provision of services despite up-to-date knowledge, competency, latest technology and available resources.

The federal government could not implement the idea of launching 200 service centres under the public-private partnership to facilitate farmers despite a report prepared by the then deputy chairman of Planning Commission, Sardar Asif Ali Khan, three years ago.

The concept of rural retail outlets launched by the Agrow (Pvt) Ltd from the Kasur district is the beginning of the evolutionary process which will bring revolution in fields and benefit farmers in terms of better yield and more revenue.University of Agriculture Faisalabad vice-chancellor Ikrar Ahmad Khan said this while speaking at the launching ceremony of the first retail outlet of Agrow (Pvt) Limited on Kasur Road near Ganda Singh, about 45 kilometers from here, on Monday.

Covering two acre area, the outlet comprises fast-moving consumer goods, agro-based products from seed to the equipment, a filling station, a bank and an insurance company.

The idea is floated by the JSPE, an equity arm of the JS Group, on the pattern of India’s Hryali Kissan which has 350 outlets in different parts of India.

The five other outlets with similar services at Sheikhupura, Thing Morr, Chishtian, Pakpattan and Warburton will be operational by Nov 30.

Mr Ikrar Khan said that 88 per cent farmers of the country were small farmers who did not have resources like tractors and instruments.

“They also lack buying power for having inputs. They are deprived of their due share even after production and at the marketing stage’” he said.

The agriculture markets across the country could not surpass the 1947 figure of 300 despite five times growth in all crop, he said and added that the government did not have the capacity to handle the services.

He said the government could provide all services including infrastructure, technical support and enabling environment to farmers under one platform, but it avoided doing so.

Mr Khan said a survey regarding production of wheat among progressive and ordinary farmers in Punjab revealed that the yield varied between 15 and 45 per maunds per five acre, which meant the farmer was producing average 25 maunds of wheat, adding a lot of potential was there among farmers but there was a need to combine all services at one platform.

The chief guest said the Agrow, being a private entity, had taken a lead in initiating a new idea of providing services, including rental and technical field support to peasants, urging the company and its stakeholders to monopolize the market otherwise other entrepreneurs would have a space in the market.

He said earlier a company named Agri Mall initiated the same idea with different management structure but it did not prove successful, adding there was a need to develop 600 such outlets keeping in view the agricultural need of the country.

Agrow’s head of sale Ataullah Tahir Khan told participants that five more outlets were being established in different parts of Punjab while 200 to 250 such outlets would be set up in Punjab and Sindh in coming four years.

He said their staff, including agri experts, would not only provide basic commodities to farmers from seed to equipment at company rates but also guide them in fields free-of-cost from sowing stage to the harvesting. He said the centre staff would also maintain an actual data of crops, production and increase in per acre yield for future planning.

Agrow suppliers, the people from corporate and the agri sector and farmers from nearby areas visited the outlet and took a round of items displayed there.

Plum Qingqi Motors limited managing-director Wang Zihai and his subordinates also visited the outlet.

Mr Zihai told Dawn they had already 200 dealers across the country but the display of their five items, including motorcycles, at the first-ever rural outlet of the country, would help increase their sale.

He termed the introduction of the new idea in Pakistan by JSPE beneficial for the rural community, saying the availability of all items at one place would redress the grievances of farmers and provide them an opportunity to shop goods at the doorstep.

He said that rural outlets system was also being run successfully in China.