Regulated Markets in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh: An Economic Analysis of Performance and Investment

The study has examined the performance and investment in regulated markets in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh by selecting three regulated markets, thirty traders and sixty farmers. The market functionaries in the Bhunter market are vertically and horizontally integrated more than those in Bandrol and Patlikuhl markets. The study has revealed that the compound growth rates of arrivals for vegetables were significant and positive in all the markets, except in the Bhunter market. All the markets lack facilities like mechanical graders and cold storage, cafeteria/restaurant and rest house. The market fee was the major source of income in the Bandrol and Patlikuhl markets. These markets lack in the basic infrastructure to handle the increasing arrival of fruits and vegetables and therefore volume of trade is not sufficient. Hence, there is a need to develop the basic infrastructural facilities including shops for traders, parking, etc. in these markets.