Factors Affecting Marketing and Disposal of Onion in Rajasthan

The present study was undertaken in eight selected districts of Rajasthan based on the highest area and production. A total sample size of 600 onion growers was taken from selected eight major onion growing districts of state. Agro-climatic condition of the Rajasthan is the most suitable for onion. In the total area and production in the country, Rajasthan stands 6th position in area and production in India and contributes about 4.79% share in area and 5.06% share in production. The study revealed that Physical characters and pungency are the most important characters considered by farmers while selecting varieties as it affects its marketability. The study found that the farmers practicing grading before marketing of the onion accounted 60.0 (Chittor) to 78.67 per cent (Alwar). The price realized for the graded onion was 20 to 30 per cent higher than the price of ungraded onion. The marketable surplus of onion among the sample farmers worked out in the range of 85 to 87 per cent of the total production. Wide variation in onion storage was observed among districts as 26.67 (Chittor) to 69.33 (Jodhpur) per cent of the total farmers. Majority of onion farmers disposed their produce through commission agents in mandi.