Agricultural marketing information of regulated market functionaries in Meghalaya: Need to develop strategies Hatai L D*, Tripathi A K, Hazarika B N College of Horticulture and Forestry and College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, 791102, Arunachal Pradesh *Corresponding author: lakshmidharhatai@gmail.com
Online published on 24 March, 2023. Abstract Agricultural marketing information is crucial to the farmers to make decisions about what to grow, when to harvest, and to which market produce should be sent. An attempt has been made to identify the various patterns of collection, documentation, dissemination and constraints of agricultural marketing information (AMI) of regulated market functionaries in the study area. Two regulated markets namely, Mawiong Regulated Market in Mylliem Block of East Khasi Hills and Garobadha Regulated Market in Selsella Block of West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya were selected purposively for the AMIS study. From the findings of the research study, it was indicated that the commodities notified in Garobadha regulated market were Jute, Ginger, Chillies, Arecanut and Cashewnut where as in case of Mawiong regulated market, these were Broom sticks, Bay leaf/ Tejpatta, Potato, and Torchwood. It was revealed that market arrivals and prices (maximum, minimum and modal) were the only two maj or types of market information documented and made available to the farmers and other intended beneficiaries in sample regulated markets. It was found that there was no documentation of information like area under cultivation, production, post-harvest handlings of agricultural produce, value addition and pattern of packing in the selected markets. The arrivals and prices information were documented both in written form and electronic form at the main market of Mawiong and sub markets of Garobadha regulated market. Moreover, such arrivals, prices and quality aspects of information were documented on daily basis in Mawiong regulated market and weekly basis in Garobadha regulated market. These AMI were compiled and reported on weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis to the farmers/end users in Mawiong market. It revealed that personal visit to the main market and sub market yard by the personnel and regular employees was the major method of collection of market information on arrivals and prices in both the selected regulated markets. However, area under crop, production, import-export related information was collected through internet. It was observed that grade, standards, quality and post-harvest related information were collected by sampling as well as entire population method in Mawiong regulated market. In general, the methodology adopted for generating arrivals and prices information was based on entire population recorded from the entry point and commission agent’s transactions of the day in both the selected regulated market. Unable to evaluate and document the agricultural market information by the farmers due to illiteracy and poor communication ability, lack of auction system, no grading from the farmers’ point and cess was taken in random were the major constraints in management of AMI in the selected regulated markets. There is need of proper dissemination of market intelligence and information through all possible means of communication for improving the marketing efficiency. Revitalise of APMCs, proper integration of various agencies for adequate and efficient dissemination of vital agricultural marketing information so that it will act as a ‘one-stop solution’ for the needs of the farming community. Top |