Performance of regulated agricultural markets in Punjab

Abstract

Regulated agricultural markets have been playing a pivotal role in procurement of farm produce. With rising agricultural production, growth of regulated market facilities reveals that Punjab has been a leading state in development of marketing infrastructural facilities for orderly marketing of agricultural produce in the best interest of both producers and consumers. Punjab state accounts for about six per cent of the total regulated markets in the country. The density of existing regulated agricultural markets in Punjab is adequate as 443 regulated agricultural markets already exist in the state against requirement of 641 regulated agricultural markets. Further village economy is widely linked with markets through village/link roads maintained by Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board and Public Works Department which has smoothened the selling and buying of farm inputs and farm produce. Also a remarkable rise in income from market fee for all the markets in the state is there which indicates the good economic condition of these markets. All this indicates that the regulated agricultural markets of the state are performing well but the need of the hour is further expansion and strengthening of these markets for enhancement of efficiency and consistent development of the economy.