Marketing infrastructure development in Punjab and farm laws 2020: Some observations

Market infrastructure is important not only for the performance of marketing functions and expanding the-size of market but also for the transfer of appropriate price signals leading to improved marketing efficiency. Punjab Mandi Board has been playing a significant role in improving the infrastructure in many ways as it-has established 154 regulated markets, 277 sub-yards and 4006 purchasing centres in the state. The Board in collaboration with other departments has linked every single village with the metallic link roads. Punjab would not have been a major contributor to country’s food security in the absence of such well developed infrastructure boosted by state marketing board. It was observed from the step-wise regression that regulated markets, road length and maintenance of roads were the major contributors towards the agricultural output along with other-variables. The present study also threw light on the likely adverse effects of the dissolution of APMC act wherein-the farmers might have been left at the mercy of private companies after the end of regulated market system. Resultantly, the income of Board and state revenue would have drastically declined which would have adversely-affected the funding of various developmental works, market infrastructure and road network system in the state.