build 13 warehouse centres and drying plants. At the end of 1987, seven of those centres were handed over to the community and six more will be expanded by the and of 1988. E/198 6 /4/Add.25 page 25 78. In order to help set up milk-processing plants in areas with a high productive potential, the National Planning Department, with the assistance of United Nations technical co-operation, has devised a livestock development project and planned the assembly of a milk-processing plant. The plant will be built in 1989 in the strife-torn Magdalena Medio region. 79. In order to regulate food marketing, the Agricultural Marketing Institute has, over the last two years, imported food and the necessary raw materials to cover the consumption gap in an effort to protect national production and to supply consumer needs. 80. In pursuance of its economic and social policy, since 1987, the Agricultural Marketing Institute has been assisting popular programmes to distribute essential foodstuffs in urban and rural areas. This has been done by expanding the social credit programme in cash and basic food items. Community shops, peasant user associations and co-operatives were assisted in this way and the Institute has strengthened its social distribution programmes in the border areas that have been affected by the Government of Venezuela's policy of prohibiting selling in such areas. 81. Basic food items were supplied to distant and inaccessible areas under the National Rehabilitation Plan. The Comprehensive Rural Development Fund (DRI) organized 1,000 shopkeepers into 21 associations located in 16 cities under its basic supplies programme. Chains of shopkeepers have received 100 million pesos (approximately $US 333,000) in credits from the central Government. In addition, the shopkeepers were given training in managing their businesses. In order to assist the organization of shopkeepers, 
**Analysis**
The text discusses various initiatives and projects aimed at improving the agricultural sector, food production and distribution, and economic development in a specific region. It highlights the construction of warehouse centers, milk-processing plants, and shopkeeper associations, as well as programs to regulate food marketing and provide basic food items to distant and inaccessible areas.

**Category**
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Economic development