Critical analysis of marketing constraints faced by pomegranate growers in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra

Abstract

Pomegranate is an important fruit of tropical and subtropical regions of India. The wide adaptability, hardy nature, low maintenance cost, steady and high yields, fine table and therapeutic values, better keeping quality and possibilities to throw the plants into rest period when there is scarcity of irrigation water are some of the qualities which make this fruit crop ideally suitable for semi arid and arid regions. The present study was conducted in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state considering the area and production of pomegranate. During the study, it was observed that the major marketing constraints faced by pomegranate growers in study area were market fluctuation in price for their produce, lack of processing facilities, high cost of transportation, low price paid to pomegranate growers and lack of storage facility. While the least felt constraints were payment insecurity, unavailability of skilled labour and risk bearing.