Economics of marketing and problems of red gram in Solapur district

The present study was intended to depict the picture of red gram growing enterprise in Solapur district of Maharashtra state. The study examine marketing cost, market margin and price spread of red gram in Solapur market and problems involved in the marketing of red gram. Different marketing channels were followed by the sample farmers. However, Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer was the major marketing channel at overall level, per quintal cost of marketing was found to be `245.29. The major items of cost were commission charges, transport charges and packaging charges. The major problems faced by red gram growers in production were high wages for labour (87.50 per cent), non- availability of labour in peak period (85 per cent), high costs of seed (80 per cent), high costs of manures and fertilizer (80 per cent), incidence of pests and diseases (77.50 per cent) and non-availability of loan in time (67.5 per cent) While, in case of marketing of red gram, the problems faced by the farmers were high commission charges (90 per cent), price variation in the market (87.50 per cent) followed by high transport charges (82.50 per cent), high market charges (75 per cent), and malpractices followed in market (65 per cent). The study suggests that the formation of co-operative marketing societies for better sale.