Agricultural markets in the semi Arid Tropics: proceedings of the international workshop held at ICRISAT center, India, 24-28 October 1983

Agricultural marketing involves spatial aspects as well as economic issues. Also, marketing sys tems can be organized, regulated, and partly or wholly replaced by public interventions Accord ingly the interdisciplinary dialogue was widened by inviting not only social scientists, but also adminis trators and practitioners of agricultural marketing This lent a balanced perspective to the delibera tions

The workshop covered the following areas: (1) an overview of existing market channels of commodities typically produced and traded in semi-arid tropical countries; (2) the spatial organi zation of agricultural marketing systems: (3) ana lyses of economic efficiency gains from agricultural marketing: (4) the equity aspects of agricultural marketing and (5) the range of public interventions across various countries.
In a summary session, an attempt was made to draw policy conclusions both for public interven tions and for future research.

Two field visits were organized, one to the ICRI SAT research station and the other to see rural markets. The first visit provided insight into the work done on technology development at ICRISAT Cen ter. ICRISAT is investing about 70% of its annual research budget on the crop improvement pro grams, 20% on the Farming Systems Research Program, and less than 10% on the Economics Program. National institutions collaborate with ICRISAT in technology generation, and they are responsible for the transfer of innovations to the farmer.

The second visit was a tour of the markets of Jadcherla and Kalvakurty in Mahbubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh in India, and of Aurepalle village, where ICRISAT's Economics Program is conduct ing household surveys since 1975. This tour pro vided an opportunity to see typical regulated daily markets, with auctions being conducted, and to talk to traders and farmers attending the markets. In Aurepalle participants could meet farmers and see their houses, including grain-storage facilities and implements used.