Agricultural marketing in India

Agriculture is the predominant sector in Indian economy. Naturally the agricultural marketing plays a crucial role in its economic development. As a sequal to the technolo gical revolution, better communications, modernisation of agriculture, marketing of agricultural produce has assumed added significance. Increased production resulting in greater marketable surplus, shortage of storage facilities, expansion of middlemen and their malpractices, the high degree of illiteracy and ignorance of the farmers and increased demand for agricultural produce from urban population, together have called for a rapid improvement in the existing marketing system. The Government has made a commendable attempt in this direc tion by establishing regulated markets through legislation.

An attempt is made in this book to study the role and working of selected regulated markets in Andhra Pradesh. This work is based on the author's dissertation submitted for Ph. D. in Andhra University in 1982. After making a detailed examination of the existing marketing system in the country, the study of the selected markets has been attempted. Apart from the origin and growth of the markets, it provides in indepth analysis of the market facilities and amenities, the market practices, the volume of business transactions, financial performance, operatio nal efficiency etc. A new and extended role of the markets has also been suggested. In the light of this, the study is expected to provide greater insights into the agricultural marketing system not only of Ahdhra Pradesh but the country as a whole,