Potato Marketing in North East Region of India: A Diagnostic Study

Marketing can be defined as the commercial functions involved in transferring goods from producer to consumer. Marketing assumes special significance with regard to profitability of any agriculture commodity in a given agriculture production situation. This is more so with regard to perishable and semi perishable as well as bulky agricultural commodities. Study was conducted with 120 potato farmers drawn from the two districts each of the states Assam and Meghalaya. Twenty four (24) traders were also included to meet the requirements of the study. Study focused on analyzing the area under potato production, consumption and disposal pattern. Besides, marketing channels were also explored. Marketing cost for regulated and traditional markets in both the states was also computed. Findings revealed several interesting empirical facts which have been reported for the first time from north-eastern region with respect to potato.