Constraints in the Marketing of Wheat and Rice in Aligarh District: A Case Study

This study analyses marketing constraints of wheat and rice under four broad heads viz; infrastructural, institutional, pricing, and weight/measurement using primary data. The study revealed that lack of road and transport, storage and market information are the major infrastructural constraints. Lack of proper regulated markets and excessive involvement of middlemen adversely affected the marketing of wheat and rice. In addition, low price of produce, price fluctuation and ineffective government procurement system are the major pricing constraints. Lack of grading facilities, non-availability of scientific weighting and measurement equipments, and lack of bargaining power is other barrier which farmers face in marketing. The results revealed that marginal farmers face significantly more problem as compared to small and medium farmers. The study concluded that proper community storage facilities should be provided to farmers before every harvesting season. Information centers should be established at block level to provide latest information regarding regional market prices on daily basis and norms of grading, standardization and other required queries. Road and transport connectivity should be developed in such a way that villages are linked with the regulated markets. Farmers should be registered in regulated markets with Aadhar card and produce should be bought from these registered farmers or group of farmers to reduce the impact of intermediaries.