Rural Haats and Marts - Conduit of Agricultural Marketing: Evidence from the Field

With India having transformed from a food deficit to food surplus country, the focus of policy planning in the country has shifted from production to income augmentation of farmers, particularly in the backdrop of target of doubling of farmers’ income by 2022. As a result, importance of agriculture marketing has gained much prominence for better income realization by primary producers and farmers. In this context, the role of the rural markets encompassing periodic Rural Haats and Rural Marts is indispensable in a country like India where more than two-thirds of the population resides in villages and a large chunk of them depends on primary activities for their income. However, lack of proper infrastructure viz. raised platforms with roof shades, lack of toilets, absence of proper road connectivity, inadequate drainage and proper hygiene, etc. pose a serious challenge resulting in low level of economic and social exchanges in such Rural Haats and Marts. In this backdrop, a field based study was conducted to assess the impact of infrastructure created in NABARD supported Rural Haats and Marts on the agricultural marketing in the catchment areas of these entities. The study was conducted in 2 tribal districts (Dumka and Bokaro) of Jharkhand covering 82 sample buyers and sellers drawn from 4 sample Rural Haats and 2 Rural Marts. The study found that after up-gradation of infrastructure in the sample Rural Haats, there was an increase in number of sellers coming to such Haats, increase in income level of sellers, lower price for buyers, increased level of social exchange among the buyers/sellers, and socio-economic empowerment of villagers including women. The study suggested for more investments in such infrastructures by concerned stakeholders and better convergence of similar such schemes by public, private and non-government organizations for profound impact on primary producers viz. farmers, artisans, women SHGs members, etc. in the long run.