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Marketing,
storage mechanism to be improved
ISLAMABAD -The Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Live
Stock, Khair Muhammad Junejo, has said a practical and
short-term marketing infrastructure plan is being prepared to
solve marketing and storage problems of the agricultural
production.
While talking to APP here on Friday, he said the proposed plan
will be comprehensive in all respects and it will be able to
cater to the needs of the farmers.
The minister said the government wanted to create farmer
friendly atmosphere to encourage the growers to boost their
production with full dedication and hard working.
He said role of the middle man should be curtailed to ensure
maximum benefits for the farmers because he should be the main
beneficiary of his products.
Junejo said private sector will be dully encouraged and helped
to play its vital role in improving the marketing and storage
mechanism benefiting the farmers.
All the relevant government agencies and banks will be
instructed to extend required guidance and monetary assistance
to all those interested parties who wanted to shoulder the
government responsibilities to enhance agriculture production
of the country, he added.
SUGAR SHORTAGE: Responding to a question about shortage of
sugar the minister said the production of sugarcane adversely
suffered during last year due to certain problems and trend of
less yield of this crop may also continue this year.
He said the government had already announced support price of
Rs 36 per maund for sugarcane to facilitate and boost the
interest of the farmers.
Junejo said the owners of the sugar mills would be asked to
clear all the outstanding dues of the growers enabling them to
focus their attention on cultivation of sugarcane to meet
domestic needs of the country.
All-out efforts would be made to ensure clearance of growers
outstanding dues to encourage them to boost their production.
About a question regarding delay in purchase of paddy by the
Pasco, the Agriculture Minister said he had received certain
complaints in this connection and he would be convening a
meeting to discuss all such issues and solution to these
problems would be sorted out.
However, he asked the growers to take care of the varieties
and purification of the crop from moisture so that it could
compete products of the other countries in the international
market.-APP
courtesy Daily Business
recorder , 6
April, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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