Raising Farmer's Income Level by Identifying Constraints in Marketing of Wheat and Rice by Smallholders in Aligarh District of Uttar Pradesh

Using primary data, this study has identified constraints in marketing of what and rice by smallholders under four broad categories, viz. infrastructural, institutional, pricing and weight & measurement. The study has revealed that lack of roads & transportation, storage facilities and market information are the major infrastructural constraints. Lack of proper regulated markets and excessive involvement of middlemen adversely affect the marketing of wheat and rice by the smallholders. In addition, low price of produce, wide fluctuations in price and ineffective government procurement system are the major pricing constraints. Lack of grading facilities, non-availability of scientific weighing and measuring equipments and weak bargaining power are the other barriers which farmers face in marketing. The study has concluded that to raise farmer's income, proper community storage facilities should be provided to farmers, information centres should be established, road and transport connectivity should be developed to link farmers with regulated markets.