Marketing of Vegetables: an Inter State Comparison of Practices and Associated Costs

The present study provides information on the marketing practices followed and the associated costs in vegetable trade in three states viz. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh ann Tamil Nadu. It was observed that producer-commission agent was the most popular marketing channel followed by most of the cultivators, though the extent of using this channel differed from vegetable to vegetable and state to state. Field sales were found to be more common in Tamil Nadu compared to other two states. The commission charges were found to be high in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh at around 10 per cent as compared to Tamil Nadu at 7 per cent. Though based on quintal/kilometere rate using cart was more expensive compared to lorry and bus, most of the cultivators in Tamil Nadu have used cart for transporting the vegetables due to the short distances transported and ready availability in villages. To solve common problems of high commission charges, non-availability of transport and low prices, measures like strict supervision in regulated markets, fixing reasonable commissions with the provision for 50 per cent payment by sellers, encouraging processing factories and consistent support price and export policy will help to solve the above problems faced by vegetable cultivators.