Perception Analysis of Vegetable Experts on Setting Priority for Enhancing Efficiency of Agribusiness and Marketing in Vegetable Sector in India

Abstract

Agribusiness in terms of linkages in marketing channel, market infrastructure, price stabilization and maintaining  liaison between demand and supply is a sine qua non for horticultural crops like vegetables, which are perishable in nature.  Poor linkages in the supply chain and poor marketing infrastructure are leading to high and fluctuating consumer prices  for vegetables and only a small proportion of the consumer rupee reaches to the farmers. There is substantial wastage,  deterioration in quality and frequent mismatch between demand and supply of vegetables spatially and over the time.  Research and development (R&D) in agribusiness is needed to be revitalised. An effort was made to identify the priority  areas where interventions are required. This study was undertaken by conducting a survey of horticultural and marketing  experts in which major problematic areas in agribusiness of vegetable crops were considered. According to 72 per cent  respondents inadequacy of infrastructure and cold storage facilities (Rank-1) is among the most problematic areas where  intervention should be a priority. The other problematic areas are lengthy marketing channel and unorganised marketing  system (Rank-2), inadequate contract farming in vegetables (Rank-3), inadequate small scale production of quality  processed vegetable items (Rank-4), and instability in vegetable price leads to food price inflation (Rank-5) etc.  Addressing all the problems at one time is difficult. This study throws some light on the policy makers and research  managers to identify the way in which future agribusiness R&D should be directed in vegetable sector.