Marketing pattern of rapeseed-mustard of three categories of farmers in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Rapeseed-mustard is an important edible oilseed crop in India, being cultivated predominantly in the states of
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Gujarat. The present study was
undertaken to study the marketing pattern of rapeseed-mustard in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, India.
The sample of farmers included 75 farmers each of small, medium and large farmer categories, amounting to
225 farmer respondents. The study found that the marketable and marketed surplus of rapeseed-mustard
ranged from 92.4% (small farmers), 95.6% (medium farmers) and 97.8% (large farmers) out of their total
production. But their income varied greatly as small farmers sold away 84.7% in the first two months; even
when the prices were lower, to meet urgent farm and family obligations. But medium and large farmers did
not resort to ‘distress sale’, but reaped better returns by storing, watching the market prices, and selling at
higher prices in later months. Timely market information, storage and credit facilities may help small farmers
reap better returns.