Assessment of agricultural marketing policies and programmes in Odisha

The present paper assesses the various agricultural marketing policies and programmes implemented in Odisha and their usefulness in meeting the marketing needs of agricultural produce in the state. The nature of rural marketing system and adequacy of marketing infrastructures have also been assessed. The study is based on secondary data and literature reviews. The major agricultural marketing institutions in Odisha are Odisha State Agricultural Marketing Board (OSAMB), Directorate of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) and Regulated Market Committee (RMC). It is observed that the ownership and functioning of the markets is not uniform with the physical markets being owned by different agencies such as RMCs, Municipalities, Panchayats and also purely private persons. The Agricultural Produce Markets Regulation (APMR) Act is loosely implemented in the state, which has very limited impact on the ground. The markets under different type of ownership prevailing in the State are not conducive to adoption of good marketing practices. Since most of the agricultural markets are private and unregulated, the farmers have been hard hit in the state. The study highlights the need for professional management of markets.