Agricultural marketing system in Uttarakhand: Structure and functioning

Abstract

Uttarakhand state has 26 principal market yards, 31 sub-market yards and 27 weekly markets for marketing of agricultural produce which are regulated effectively in 11 districts of the state. However, majority of the districts of this state is located in hilly region, but the principal markets are largely located in the plain regions. Although, the entire hill region is covered under the provision of Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1964; despite this, the major hill markets are still non-functioning. However, Haldwani market which is the best market in terms of marketing welfare has the highest number of functionaries and covers about 20% of total functionaries, As far as the farmer’s perception about the prevailing marketing system and practices is concerned, majority of the farmers from Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Almora district were satisfied with the boarding/lodging, weighment, grading, cleanliness and, information sharing, who largely sell their produce to Haldwani market or the grain Mandies in Rudrapur, Jaspur, Sitarganj etc. But these farmers have also expressed their dissatisfaction on the account of cold storage facilities and the exploitative practices of traders and management of the markets especially during the rainy season in the agricultural markets of Uttarakhand. It may be inferred that the hilly regions of the state require special attention on the marketing interventions and infrastructure due to difficult terrains and limited bargaining and handling capacity of the growers resulting from lower size of holding and lack of resources