Commission Agents in a Punjabi Vegetable Market: A Socio-Economic Survey

In the marketing of horticultural crops, commission agents work as middlemen between the sellers and the buyers. They buy vegetables and fruits from the producers (farmers) and sell them to the retailers (buyers). The aim of the present research work is to highlight the socio-economic characteristics of commission agents of vegetable market of Tanda Urmar of Hoshiarpur District (Punjab). In the vegetable market of the Tanda, there are 22 commission agents in all, who are regulating the marketing process. For the present study 10 commission agents were chosen randomly and interviewed using a structured interview schedule. The results show that most of the commission agents belong to the mature and the old age groups. They have learnt the specificities of this trade from their fathers and grandfathers. Although all the commission agents are literate, yet they have kept their own personal accountants (munims). Many of the agents are permanently settled in close vicinity of the vegetable market. The commission agents who deal in non-seasonal vegetables and fruits have a monthly income higher than those who deal only in seasonal or non-seasonal vegetables.