A comprehensive investment plan worth Rs 4 billion has been chalked out for agriculture marketing system during next three years. Under the plan, cold storage, processing units, provision of refrigerated vehicles and improving marketing system for the agriculture produces has been planned at a cost of Rs one billion in the fiscal year 2006-07.
This was stated by Punjab Minister for Agricultural Marketing Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon while talking to delegations of farmers and representatives of market committees, here on Wednesday.
Qasim Noon maintained that a chunk of Rs 386 million would be provided by the government whereas Rs 672 million would be spent by the private sector in this public-private partnership investment plan for improving marketing infrastructure. He added that provision of proper storage facility at farm level and in markets would help boost the exports. He maintained that new vegetable and grain markets will be set up in addition to improving infrastructure in the existing markets to strengthen the marketing process of agriculture produces and ensure proper returns to the growers for their products.
He said that a network of market access roads would be laid in the province especially in the far-flung areas for smooth transportation of the agriculture products to the markets. He said that the government has announced incentives for production of quality and contamination free agriculture produces so as to meet the challenges of WTO and compete in the international market.