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Agricultural
Database
National
Agriculture Policy:
Agriculture
Marketing :
Marketing of agricultural
commodity is inextricably related to its production. But the Department of
Agricultural Marketing (DAM) remains as the weakest of all the existing
organizations in the agriculture sector. Markets for agricultural
commodities are generally under middle-men’s control, which is very
discouraging for the farmers. This is not at all favorable for boosting
agricultural production. To develop agricultural marketing system,
following steps will be taken by the government:
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Proper marketing network
will be established to facilitate timely marketing of agricultural
commodities. To this end, development programs will be taken up to
promote processing of agricultural commodities and ensure fair prices
of crops to both the growers and the consumers.
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The Department of
Agricultural Marketing will be restructured with the provision of
required manpower for its smooth functioning. A separate institution
named ‘Agriculture Price Commission’ will be established for
preparing adequate marketing programs, giving proper guidelines and
implementation of marketing activities along with strengthening of the
DAM.
In preparing marketing
programs the following points will be taken into consideration:
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Crops will be stored and
preserved in proper conditions to ensure their uninterrupted supplies
throughout the year as well as to cope with the over production of
crops. The use of any harmful chemical in this process will be
controlled.
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Timely supply of right
quantities of crops at right places will be ensured through the
development of transportation system.
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Processing facilities
will be developed to reduce wastage of rapidly perishable crops,
increase utility and maintain quality of agricultural commodities.
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Export of agricultural
commodities will be increased through grading and standardization.
Also, to increase local consumption of such crops, necessary measures
will be taken for grading, standardization, labeling and quality
development according to consumers’ taste and preference and food
value.
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Efficiency and
effectiveness of marketing programs will be improved through proper
development of market places and related physical infrastructure.
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Market related
information would be supplied to the farmers, traders and consumers
through strengthening of market information service.
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Consumers/users, traders
and processors will be informed about the production, utilization and
processing technology, etc. of new crops.
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Necessary assistance
will be provided in solving marketing problems at the government and
non-government levels by establishing marketing database and analyzing
the data.
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Agricultural Commodity
Market Control Act of 1964 (revised in 1985) will be updated and
implemented.
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To ensure fair prices of
crops, measures will be taken to establish linkage among the
producers, traders, exporters and processors through ‘contract
sale’ of crops.
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Self-motivated
cooperative marketing system will be encouraged.
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Necessary output price
supports will be provided and food grain procurement will be
strengthened in order to ensure fair price of crops during the
harvesting season and to stabilize price when any crop damage or over
production occurs.
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