Managing Director of Agro National Corporation (AgroNat) Haaroon Rasheed has stated it is currently purchasing and marketing products from over 250 farmers.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director Rasheed said farmers had been forced to overcome their challenges and market their products by themselves before the establishment of AgroNat. As such, he said the biggest challenge faced by farmers had been obtaining the necessary agricultural equipment and resources. He said over 2,000 farmers have expressed interest in working with AgroNat, out of which contracts have been signed with 700 farmers. He also said the state-owned company has since provided start-up packages to over 250 farmers and is purchasing and marketing their produce.
AgroNat was established by the government in 2020 to market agricultural produce from local farms and provide a better income for farmers by providing technical and financial assistance and helping them market their produce. AgroNat has also decided to establish cold storage facilities in nine islands in order to transport local produce to the facilities and sell products needed for resorts and businesses wholesale.
The company stated the cold storage facilities will enable the products of farmers to be freshly marketed.