Economics of Turmeric Marketing in Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya

The study examined the marketing system and the major constraints in marketing of turmeric in the Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. Multi-stage sampling was used for selection of 80 farmers and 40 market intermediaries. The study reveals that maximum of the farmers were female. The marketable and marketed surplus was found to be 63.08 percent and 60.56 percent to the total production respectively. Three major marketing channels were identified; Channel-Ill (Producer-Commission agent-Wholesaler-cum-processor-Retailer-Consumer) was most common. The producer's share in consumer's rupee was more or less equal in all the channels with a difference of 2 to 3 percent. Channel-I was found to be more efficient than Channel-Ill, but the volume transacted was more in the case of Channel-Ill Price fluctuation was the major problem faced by farmer whereas, unavailability of proper storage facilities was the serious problem faced by market intermediaries.