Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board: A catalyst for modern marketing

Abstract

Haryana became an independent state on 1st November 1966, the state began its exciting and inspiring story of development. In the agricultural sector, with success of green revolution, ranked second state having large agriculture surplus. The state is regarded as the wheat basket and rice bowl of India, contributing 45 percent of rice and 65 percent of wheat to the central pool and more than five percent to total food production of the country. Therefore, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board was constituted on 1st August, 1969. Initially, there were only 58 Market Committees in the State with 58 Principal yards and 60 Sub Yards. Even these markets were small and congested and lacked the basic amenities and facilities for proper handling of the arrivals. The farmers had to travel long distances even up to 50 to 60 kilometres to bring their produce and often on katcha roads, to the Markets. It provides infrastructure for facilitating marketing of agricultural produce. It supports agricultural development. The Board has been promoting the interest of the farmer, facilitating the buyers. Today, it has created excellent facilities for marketing of agricultural produce through 106 Principal Market Yards, 182 Sub Yards and 178 Purchase Centres, 184 purchase centres, 30 fruits and vegetable mandis, 477 grain mandis, 4 agro malls, 25 fodder markets, 33 cotton market, one wool market, one timber market, three fish markets and one apple market.Thus, it plays a vital role not only in stimulating production and consumption but also in accelerating the pace of economic development.