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India is one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables. Ideal climatic conditions ensure the availability of a wide range of fruits and vegetables in large quantities through out the year. Even though there is a handsome demand for these items in our cities due to large population and higher per capita income, vegetable cultivators allocate only 36.28% of their cultivable land towards the cultivation of these items and the internal demand is largely met from the arrivals from outside the state. Thus there are imported and domestic vegetables and fruits in our market and both are equally demanded. Generally domestic items of vegetables have more demand but this demand cannot be met fully due to the non-availability of enough quantities of the same. A study on the vegetable/fruit traders in the state was seen pertinent and hence a sample survey on traders was conducted along with the survey on cultivators of these items. Objectives
1) To analyze the existing market infrastructure and service for fruits and vegetables in different markets in our state. 2) To identify the major market arrivals, buying and selling activities, major marketing channels and price for selected fruits and vegetables in our market. 3)
To evaluate the share of farmers in consumer price for these items. The data have been collected from the selected traders through structured questionnaires in different markets spread in 14 districts of Kerala. About 30 types of fruits and vegetables arrived daily in the markets were studied. There may be slight variation in items as per seasonal and geographic changes. The price of some items will fluctuate according to seasonal demands. Results of the Survey
2500 vegetable traders were selected for the study out of the 5921
traders listed. It was found
that almost all the locally produced vegetables were traded by these traders
in addition to the items arrived from outside the state.
The major vegetables being traded here are Beans, Bitter gourd,
Brinjal, Coccinia, Cucumber, Drumstick, and Cabbage.
Out of the total traded 11.28% was tomato, 7.77% was Potato 4.30% was
bitter gourd, 7.09% was cucumber,8.68% was onion and5.05% was snake gourd.
As per the survey, 4163597
quintals of vegetables were traded in a year.
Among the districts, Kozhikode stands in the top position with 15.07%
vegetable trading. Then comes
Alappuzha with 11.77%. Pathanamthitta district witnessed the least trading
in the case of vegetables. All
the vegetables together fetched an average income of Rs.10.5 per Kg in the
state. It varies between Rs.9
and Rs.12 among districts, except Wynad where the average income is Rs. 21.3
due to the abundance of ginger and it fetches an average price of Rs.30.73.
It can be seen that Potato, Tomato, Snake gourd, Bitter gourd,
Cabbage, Cucumber, Onion etc. are the most demanded vegetables in the state
and only few of these items like snake gourd and bitter gourd are cultivated
in the state in abundance. Vegetables worth Rs. 4399357899 were traded in the
survey year. Out of this, the
farmers in our state received Rs.1445849852.
It is seen from this that the lion share of the value of these goes
to the cultivators of other states, middlemen and traders.
In other words we are consuming
vegetables for Rs.43892 lakhs and cultivating vegetables for Rs.14458
lakhs in a year. Out of this
trade, vegetables for Rs.4322 lakhs was sold to different institutions like
hotels, hostels etc. Vegetables
for Rs.16757 lakhs were sold for small traders.
A small portion had been exported. Exports
It can be understood that major part of vegetables for exports are
collected by the agents directly from the cultivators.
Usually the traders are not much involved in the exporting of
vegetables. Their role in this is only negligible. Purchase
Traders
purchase vegetables from different sources.
Out of the total purchase of vegetables for Rs.30217/- lakhs, major
portion was purchased from out side the state.
About 52% of the vegetables came from outside the state by direct
purchase or through agents. 39.72%
received through agents from inside the state.
8.68% was seen purchased directly from the cultivators inside and
outside the state. Employment
About 12000 persons get direct employment through the trade of vegetables. Out of which 60% are household employees and 40% are paid employees. A multiple of these is estimated as indirect employees like agents, loading and unloading labourers, transportation workers etc. Income
and Expenditure
It is estimated that 4163597 quintals of vegetables have been traded
in the state in the reference year. Important
vegetables traded are spinach, Beans, Bitter gouard, Cucumber, Brinjal,
Cabbage Tomato, Onion etc. Majority
of the vegetables traded in our state came from outside the state.
Few of the items like bitter gourd Snake gourd Ash gourd etc. were
cultivated in the state. Only 32.9% of total vegetables traded in our state is
produced here. The major vegetables traded here are Bitter gourd, Cabbage, Carrot, Onion, Cucumber, Potato, tomato etc. Kozhikode district is at the top and Pathanamthitta is in the bottom as far as vegetable trading is concerned. 15.63% of the vegetable trade is going on in Kozhikode district while only 1.21% in Pathanamthitta district. Kozhikode district sold vegetables for Rs.4732 lakhs in a year and Alapuzha district had a trade of Rs.3697 lakhs, while Pathanamthitta had only a trade of Rs. 368 lakhs in a year. The total trade of vegetables in the state was forRs.30275 lakhs per year i.e. in our state an average sale of vegetables for 83 lakhs is going on per day. An average sale of Rs.5.92 lakhs per day in a district. This doesn’t include the homegrown stock being consumed by the households. For the survey 2500 average retail traders were selected for study. Table-B1
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