Scenario of agricultural marketing in the state of Nagaland (India)

Agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in the socio economic progress of a nation. In Nagaland, about 68 per cent of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on agricultural and allied activities. Nagaland is topographically a hilly terrain state with fertile land and varied agro climatic condition suitable for cultivation of many crops. Over the years, there has been an appreciable increase in production and productivity of major food grains, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruits and vegetables and other commercial and plantation crops in the state. The state has huge potential in production and export of many high value organic agricultural and horticultural produce within and outside the country. Agricultural marketing plays a crucial role in ensuring robust growth in agriculture sector combating poverty and socio economic injustice of the farmer. Agricultural produce is perishable and seasonal in nature and requires appropriate intervention and policy support in the process of marketing. Nevertheless, in Nagaland farmers are often faced with multiple marketing challenges mainly due to the geographical isolation of the region from the mainland of the country, remoteness of the scattered villages in the state, small and scattered production, inadequate marketing infrastructure, presence of middlemen, inaccessibility of the villages etc. Thus, agricultural activities are mainly practiced at subsistence scale at household level. Agricultural marketing mechanisms operating at various levels are faced with many deficiencies at institutional, structural and functional level. The present paper examines the prospect and challenges of agricultural marketing in Nagaland and also suggests suitable measures for the development of agricultural marketing in Nagaland.