Price Spread and Vegetables Marketing in the Hinterlands of Pusa and Tajpur Blocks of Samastipur District of Bihar (India)

Abstract

The present study aims at assessing price-spread in marketing of important vegetables grown in Pusa Block and Tajpur Block of Samastipur District of Bihar. The study is based on primary data collected from 120 vegetable growers located in 8 villages of the two blocks. It was observed that out of the total marketable surplus of important vegetables, larger share was from cauliflower (37.05 per cent) closely followed by brinjal (35.95 per cent) and pointed gourd (11.29 per cent). Farm size wise analysis of marketable surplus indicated that larger contribution was from small farmers followed by medium and marginal farmers. Post-harvest losses were found to be higher in case of cabbage, cauliflower and brinjal. Four marketing channels were observed in operation (I) Producer→ Commission Agent→ Wholesaler (distant market)→ Commission agent (distant market)→ Retailer (distant market)→ Consumer (II) Producer→ Commission agent→ Retailer→ Consumer (III) Producer→ Commission agent→ Consumer (IV). Producer→ Commission agent (Darbhanga)→ Retailer (Darbhanga)→ Consumer. Channel (IV) is special channel which operate in case of pointed gourd, cauliflower and brinjal only. Of these channels channel-III was found to be more efficient followed by channel-II, channel-IV and channel-I. Higher charges of intermediaries, defective weighing of produce, lack of market place, lack of cold storage were some of the important problems in perception of vegetable growers. Provision of refrigerated vans, creation of cold storage and installation of processing facilities may prove important milestone in increasing income of the vegetable growers.