Factor influencing marketing of winter rice (Sali rice) in the Nalbari district of Assam (India)

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the Nalbari district of Assam to analyze marketing of rice. Both marketing and constraints related important factors were studied. The Nalbari district was selected purposively for the study as the district is a predominantly rice growing district and also from the points of convenience and acquaintance of the researcher. A Multistage Stratified Random Sampling technique was used to select the ultimate sample units i.e., the rice growing farmers from six selected villages of two development blocks, viz, Tihu and Borigog-Banbhag. In total 120 rice growers were selected randomly for the study. The Cobb-Douglass functional form was used to analyze the influence of various factors towards rice marketing. Also marketing constraints were identified and ranked. In the rice marketing handling, assembling, and transportation, storage and percentage loss affected the rice marketing process badly. The major constraints identified regarding marketing of rice in the study area were unsatisfactory price offered to the producer, unstable price, involvement of superfluous middleman, inadequate storage facility in rural areas and unavailability of good road network. The study indicated that major thrust should be given on, good road network for better transportation, dissemination of new technology, assured input supply and strong marketing support like storage structure, processing facilities in rural areas.