Policy efforts to boost production are unlikely to succeed without adequate attention to improvements in these areas. This can bring substantial long-term gains to agricultural producers through the establishment of more favourable price formation conditions and, ultimately, higher agricultural incomes. The benefits would also accrue to other agents of the supply chain, including food consumers for whom more competitive food chains would provide higher quality products. Improvements in hard and soft infrastructure beyond the farm gate largely depend on the provision of adequate general services and properly functioning market institutions, areas where public support could be most appropriately directed.