Price spread and marketing efficiency of Guava (Psidiumguajava l.) in Kaushambi district, Uttar Pradesh – an economic analysis

Abstract

Guava has a specific significance amongother horticultural crops grown in the state. The study was purposively carried out in Kaushambidistrict of Uttar Pradesh. The share of guava growers in the consumer rupee was very low as it was evident by the study due to the irregularities in marketing. Hence guava may be included in the list of notified agriculture commodities and to be brought under the preview of utter Pradesh agriculture marketing produce (Regulation) Act. The major constraints faced by produces were non-availability of skilled labour, lack of capital, hygienic conditions, high degree of competition, and lack of storage and proper packaging material at reasonable prices. The marketing unitsshould be given impetus by the administrator/policy makers by providing better quality of packing material and better technology which will help in improving the quality of the guava. The policy makers may take up the consumer’s awareness campaign to educate them, so that consumerscould switch over to some extent toconsume the guava. This will also help in market expansion. Since the inadequate capital happened to be the stumbling block to the producer therefore, the administrator and the lending agency should provide financial assistant and grants so that the marketing of guava could beefficiently taken up by the producer, which would be helpful in generating the employment, reducing the marketing cost/margin and ultimatelywould help in realizing the better returns to the producer. The period of enquiry was the Agricultural year 2008-2009