Variability in Arrivals and Prices of Pulses in Barshi Market of Western Maharashtra

The paper has presented the trends in arrivals and prices of pulses in one of the APMC markers, Barshi, in Maharashtra. The time series data on monthly arrivals and prices of pulses were collected from the selected APMC market for 11 years from 2001–2002 to 2011–2012 and were analysed to compute the trends, growth rates and relationship between arrivals and prices of pulses. The study has pointed out that the seasonal fluctuations in monthly arrivals and prices of pulses were not uniform over the year and throughout the time series. It can be concluded that “when bulk of the produce reaches the market, the prices reach at their lowest level”. It was apparent that the prices of pulses at Barshi market increased rapidly with time. However, the market arrivals of pulses in Barshi market could not increase at a similar rate by which the prices of pulses increased during this period. Thus, the arrivals of pulses in Barshi market were inversely correlated to prices, but the fluctuations in prices were unrelated to the arrivals. The study has suggested that subsidies, incentives and extension services should be provided to the cultivators to encourage pulse crop production.