Vol. 11, Special Issue 2 (2022)

Author(s):
Raju Choudhary, Sonu Jain and PS Shekhawat

Abstract:
The analysis of constraints faced by the farmers in production and marketing of vegetables is a key concern not only for its main stakeholders but also for the economists. Such studies help in bridging the gaps in the implementation of agricultural policies and making appropriate strategies. The present study attempts to identify the constraints in the production and marketing of vegetables under polyhouse and normal field conditions. Data related to both production and marketing constraints were collected for the period of 2016-17 from Jaipur district of Rajasthan and Garrett ranking technique was used for ranking them. Infestation of nematodes and high cost of seeds were found to be the major production constraints in polyhouse. Also, short life of polyethylene sheet was observed to be a problem area in case of polyhouse as weather conditions changes rapidly. Besides this, erratic and extreme weather conditions, fear of failure of technology and lack of knowledge about latest package of practices negatively affected the production in polyhouses. The major constraints in normal field condition were found to be the attack of insects, pests and diseases followed by high cost of fertilizer, lack of availability of fertilizer at appropriate time, high cost of plant protection chemicals and scarcity of labour. Lack of minimum support price, high price fluctuations and lack of knowledge of market, high cost of transportation, malpractices in weighing, lack of adequate packing material and heavy loses of vegetables in market were some of the major marketing constraints identified in the study.