A comparative study on use of electronic devices in agricultural marketing in Nek region

Agricultural marketing plays an important role in Indian agriculture in general and farmer's economy in particular. The use of modern technologies provides transparency in agri-business and in making appropriate decisions in marketing of agricultural produce. The study was conducted in important regulated markets of north eastern Karnataka region that adopted the use of electronic technologies in agricultural marketing. The findings of the study reveal that the use of modern technology did not benefit the farmers or traders or other market functionaries. The illiteracy of farmers and limited access or no access makes the web portals redundant for them. The tangible, electronic devices used in the markets would ease the marketing process and help the farmers in realizing a remunerative price for their produce. These electronic equipments had no direct impact on the price mechanism but alleviated the buying and selling processes. The study suggests that planned workshops or programmes could be organized at mandi level for farmers to cope up with the changing modern technologies.