Marketing Constraints in the Potato Supply Chain: Perspectives from Stakeholders in Haryana, India

Abstract

In India potato marketing is remarkably impeded by severe constraints. Thus, this study was planned to identify various problems faced by the producers and different marketing functionaries in the supply chain of potato. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study viz.  200 farmers, 10 of each commission agent and wholesalers; 14 retailers and 6 super markets from Kurukshetra and Yamuna Nagar districts of Haryana state. Henry and Garrett ranking technique was used to determine various constraints. Among all the identified constraints, the major problems faced by farmers were high price fluctuation, lack of storage facilities and non-availability of proper market information with a mean score of 69.71, 69.61 and 67.25 respectively. From market intermediaries’ point of view, the major problems were higher rate of commission charges and inadequate market infrastructure with a mean score of 70.80 and 69.23. The study pointed out the role of awareness generation, price incentives and better infrastructure facilities to the potato growers for encouraging them to emerging potato supply chains that could enhance the farmer’s returns. The study suggests that, the farmer should get guaranteed prices of potato, and better marketing facilities should be provided by the government. Various government and non-government organizations are taking many measures to resolve the infrastructure barriers in the marketing process, but there is still a gap, thus more such efforts are required. The study will benefit the policy makers, agribusiness planners and various stakeholders that are involved in the supply chain of potato marketing.