Tamil Nadu Agricultural University B.Sc(HONS.)ABM Practical Manual cum Discussion Work Book PDF 2022

TAMILNADUAGRICULTURALUNIVERSITY B.Sc(HONS.)ABM (IIYear-IVSemester– 2022Batch) ARM203AgriculturalMarketingInstitution(2+1) CourseTeacher Dr.P.Balaji Professor(ARM) DEPARTMENTOFAGRICULTUR...

TAMILNADUAGRICULTURALUNIVERSITY B.Sc(HONS.)ABM (IIYear-IVSemester– 2022Batch) ARM203AgriculturalMarketingInstitution(2+1) CourseTeacher Dr.P.Balaji Professor(ARM) DEPARTMENTOFAGRICULTURALANDRURALMANAGEMENT CENTREFORAGRICULTURALANDRURALDEVELOPMENTSTUDIES TAMILNADUAGRICULTURALUNIVERSITY COIMBATORE 2024  TAMILNADUAGRICULTURALUNIVERSITY COIMBATORE-641003 PracticalManualcumDiscussionWorkBook Certified that this is a bonafide record work done by … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … in the course … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … during the… … … … … … ….semesterof … … … … … … … … … Externalexaminer CourseTeacher  Index Practical Submission S.No date PracticalSchedule Grade Sign date Farm visit– Marketing functions performed 1. and problems faced by farmers Preparation of interview scheduleonmarketing functions and problems faced by 2. intermediaries in Wholesale Market/Regulated market/Retailmarket 3. VisittoWholesalemarket 4. VisittoRegulated market 5. VisittoFarmer’ s Market( VisittoCooperative Marketing Society 6. VisittoFood corporationof India/Civil Supplies 7. Corporation VisittoCentralWarehousing Corporation 8. (CWC) /State Warehousing Corporation (SWC) 9. VisittoSeed Corporationof India VisittoStateAgricultureMarketing Department 10. VisittoAGMARKlaboratory 11. 12. VisittoCommodity Boards VisittoNAFED 13. VisittoFarmer Producer Company 14. VisittoCold Storage Unit 15. Identification and collection of data related to 16. marketing ( secondary source)  Farm visit – Marketing functions performed and problems faced by farmers Any single activity performed in carrying a product from the point of its production to the ultimate consumer may be termed as a marketing function. A marketing function may have any one or combination of four dimensions, viz., time, space, form and exchange (transfer of ownership). The marketing functions involved in the movement of goods from the producer to its ultimate consumer vary from commodity to commodity, market to market, the level of economic development of the country or region, and the final form of the consumption. For example, the marketing of wheat may involve bagging, loading on to a bullock cart, transportation to theprimary market, unloading, making heaps in the market yard, auction, weighing, sieving, deciding the price, taking ownership by the purchaser, payment of value, rebagging, loading on to the truck, transportation to the consuming centre, unloading, sale to the retailer, weighing by the retailer, and sale to the consumer. Alternatively, if a farmer sells directly to the consumer in the village itself or at the farm, only weighing, bagging, making payment to the farmer, taking possession and transportationtotheconsumer’ shomeareinvolved. Classification Themarketingfunctionsmaybe classifiedinvariousways. Forexample, Thomsen!Has classified themarketingfunctionsintothreebroadgroups.Theseare: Assembling or Procurement Dispersionor Distribution 2.Secondary functions: Packing or Packaging Transportation Grading, StandardizationandQualityControl Storage and Warehousing Determination or Discovery of Prices Risk Taking  Financing Buying and Selling Demand Creation Disseminationof Market Information Banking Insurance Communications-Postsand Telecommunication Supply ofEnergy-Electricity Alternatively Kohls and Uhl² haveclassified marketing functionsasfollows: Physical Functions: Storage and Warehousing Grading Transportation Exchange Functions: Buying Selling Functions: Standardization ofGrades Financing Risk Taking Disseminationof Market Information Theseapart, Converse, HuegyandMitchell³ have classifiedmarketingfunctionsina different way. Accordingtothem, Physical Movement Functions: The classification is as follows: Storage Packing Transportation Grading Distribution Ownership Movement Functions: Determining Need CreatingDemand FindingBuyersand Sellers NegotiationofPrice Rendering Advice Market ManagementFunctions: Formulating Policies Financing Providing Organization SupervisionSup Accounting Securing Information Irrespectiveof classificationsuggestedby different scholars,13functionsare most important in marketingoffarmproducts.Somedetailsofthesearediscussedbelow. Packing means, the wrapping and crating of goods before they are transported. Good have to be packed either to preserve them or for delivery to buyers. Packaging is a part of packing, which meansplacing the goods in small packageslike bags, boxes, bottles or parcelsfor saleto the ultimate consumers. Inotherwords, it meansputting goods onthe market inthe size and pack which areconvenient forthebuyers. Transportation: Transportationorthemovement ofproductsbetweenplacesisoneofthemost important marketing functionsat everystage, i.e. right fromthethreshingfloorto thepoint of consumption.Most of the  goodsare not consumedwheretheyareproduced, All agricultural commoditieshaveto be brought fromthefarmtothelocal market andfrom theretoprimarywholesalemarkets, secondary wholesalemarkets,retail marketsand ultimately to the consumers. Grading is an important marketing function, to facilitate buying/selling, price discovery and movement of the produce. Grading basically means sorting of the produce into different homogenous lots on the basis of certain characteristics, reflecting quality of the produce. The characteristics vary from commodity to commodity. Standardization has been defined as the determination of the basic limits on grades or the establishment of model processes and methods of producing, handling and selling goods and services. Inspection and quality control: To ensure the confidence of consumers, it is essential that grading is done in accordance with the standardsthat have been set. Forthispurpose, theinspectionof the goodsat regularintervalsby a third party is essential. The network of Agmark laboratories in the country for testing the quality includes AgmarklaboratoryatNagpurandseveral regional Agmark laboratories(RAL). Regular inspection creates confidence among the buyers. Producers, too, know that there is someone who checks the standards of the produce graded by them. After laboratory tests, if the produce is found to be below standards, the licence of the grader is cancelled and legal action is initiatedagainst him. The Agricultural MarketingAdvisor to the Government of India (AMA) is the authority empowered to implement the provisions of the Act, and suggest suitable modifications. Labelling: The graded products, according to the standard fixed by the Agricultural Marketing Advisor, Government ofIndia, bearthelabel‘ AGMARK’ AGMARK is the abbreviation of Agricultural Marketing. It is a quality certification mark under the Central Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937. This label indicates the purity and quality of the product on the basis of the standards that have been laid down. The labels of different colours are used to indicate the grade of the product. The AGMARK labels are printed on special quality paper and issued by the Agricultural Marketing Advisor. There are about 14000 licences manufacturing and marketing their productsunderAGMARKqualitycertificationmarks.  Storage is an important marketing function, which involves holding and preserving goods from the time they are produced until they are needed for consumption. Storage is an exercise of human foresight bymeans ofwhich commoditiesare protected from deterioration, and surplus supplies in times of plenty are carried over to the season of scarcity. The storagefunction,therefore, addsthetimeutilitytoproducts. Agricultureischaracterized byrelativelylargeandirregularseasonal andyear-to-year fluctuations inproduction. The consumptionof most farm products, on the other hand, is relatively stable. Quantity loss Qualitydeterioration Price Risk Warehousing: MeaningandFunctions: Warehouses are scientific storage structures especially constructed for the protectice of the quantity and quality of stored products. Warehousing may be defined as the assumption of responsibility for the storage of goods. It may be called the protector f national wealth, for the producestoredinwarehousesispreservedandprotectedagainst rodents, insects and pests, and against the ill-effect of moisture and dampnes Warehousing adds time valueto the product. The warehousing scheme in India is an integrated scheme of scientific storage, runl credit, price stabilization and market intelligence and is intended to reduce the post- harvest losses in farm products. Functions- Scientific storage Financing Price stabilization Market intelligence Theprocessing activityinvolvesa changeintheformof the commodity. Thisfunction includesall of those manufacturing activities which change the basic form of the product. Processing converts the raw material and brings the products nearer to huma consumption. It is concerned withtheadditionofvaluetotheproduct bychangingisform. Value addition, in general, is the process of changing or transformation of a product from its original statetoa more valuable state. Many raw commoditieshave intrinsicvaluein theiroriginal state but the act of processing and marketing adds value to it The examples are processing of gram (chick pea) in to gram flour (besan), mustard seeds in to oil and cake and sugarcane into gur or sugar. There are three possible levels of value addition or processing of farm products (NAAS, Policy Paper No. 16, 2002): Level 1: Post-harvest or Primary Processing: proper cleaning, grading and packaging (fruits, vegetables, potato) Level 2: Secondary Processing: basic processing, packaging andbranding (packed flour, suji, rice, fruit pulp) Level 3: Higher End Processing: Supply chain management, modern processing technology, packagingofprocessedfoods, brandingandmarketing(potatochipsbreakfast foods, noodles) BuyingandSelling: Thebuyingactivityinvolvesthepurchaseoftheright goodsat theright place,attheright time, in theright quantitiesandat theright price.It involvestheproblemsofwhat tobuy, whentobuy, from wheretobuy, howtobuyandhowtosettlethepriceandthetermsof purchase. Theobjectiveofsellingistodisposeofthegoodsat asatisfactoryprice. Thepricesof products, particularly ofagricultural commoditiesvaryfrom placetoplace, fromtime to time, and withthequantitytobesold.Selling, therefore, involvestheproblemsofwhento sell, wheretosell, through whomto sell, andwhethertosell inonelot orinparts. Underthemarketingsystem, thereistheresponsibilityof thevalueofthe Goods delivered to the final consumers and distributing it to various marketing agencies and farmers. This process is accomplished by a system of pricing the products at each Stage as theymovethrough the marketingchannels. Market information: Market information may be broadly defined as a communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence. It includes all the facts, estimates, opinions and other informationwhich affect the marketingofgoodsand services. Information Technology (IT) applications in Agricultural Marketing: InformationTechnology(IT)isbeingregardedasthefifth factorofproductionalongwith land, labour, capital and management. It has integrated the world by the use of Internet. Information technology is basically concerned with e-commerce, i.e. on-line information facilitating transactions, future planning for purchases and selling of agricultural products and inputs; and various other aspects which World Wide Web provides. E-commerce has revolutionized trade in developed economiesand ispickingupindevelopingcountries. ITInagricultural marketingcomprisesofthefollow tasks Linkingandnetworking of agricultural markets; Computeraidedauctiondisplaysandtrading Marketing informationsystem; Commodity informationsystem; Highway Automationsystem. Thefinancingfunctionof marketing involvestheuseofcapital tomeet thefinancial requirementsof theagenciesengaged invariousmarketingactivities.  Risk-taking/risk bearing: Hardyhasdefinedrisk asuncertainty about cost, loss ordamage. Risk isinherent inall marketing transactions. There is the risk of the destruction of the produce by fire, rodents or other elements, quality deterioration, price fall, change in tastes, habits or fashion, and the risk of placing the commodity inthe wronghandsorarea. There isa timelagbetweentheproductionand consumptionof farmproducts. The longer the time lag, the greater the risk. The risk associated with marketing cannot be dispensed with for this risk contributes to profit. Someone has to bear the risk in marketing process. But most of the risk is takenbymarket middlemen, fortheyhave thecapacitytobearit. Wheneverrisksaregreaterandvaried, themargintakenbytherisk-bearersishigher.And vice versa. Onewhoholdsthe commodity inthe processisthebearer ofthe risk. because ofwhich hemaybe betterofforworseoff. Speculation and Hedging: Speculation and hedging are important ways of minimizing price risk inbusiness. In the former, risk is taken by the person specializing inthe businesswithout much consideration of business trends, whileinthesecond, a calculatedrisk istaken. Speculation: The fundamental idea underlying speculationis the purchase or sale of a commodity at the present price with theobject ofsale or purchase at some futuredate at a favourableprice. The speculator is normallyconcerned withprofit-makingfrompricemovements. Hedgingisa tradingtechniqueof transferringthe pricerisk. It protectstradersfrom crash inprices. Hedging refers to the purchaseor sale ofa commodity ina futures market Hedgined by a sale or a purchase in the cash market. Commodity Futures Trading: Futures trading is an agreement between a buyer and seller obligating the seller to deliver a specified asset of specified quality and quantity tothe buyer a specified dateat a specific place andthe buyer in turnisobligatingtopaytothesellera pre-negotiatedpricein exchangeof thedelivery.’ Marketing Infrastructure:  Marketing infrastructure serves as the wheels for carrying economic activities. Market infrastructure isimportant not only for the performance of marketing functions and the expansionof the size ofthe market but also fortransfer ofappropriatepricesignalsleading toimproved marketing efficiency.Infrastructural facilitiesleadtoreductioninmarketing costswhich is crucial for increasing the realization of farmers and reducing size the costs to the consumers.  Basic Information: Name: Contact No: Type of ownership: Individual/Partnership/Corporate/Any other Procurement pattern of identified vegetable during 2022-23 Procurement (Tonnes) Vegetables transaction Procurement of identified vegetables Vegetables Purchase Value Payment vegetables Credit  Payment Vegetables Value Credit vegetables Marketing cost Total Cost/Year (Rs.) Electricity Charges Communication Charges Shop/Market Maintenance charges Vehicle Maintenance 10.b. Wastages during cleaning and grading waste grade  Packing Gunny Bag Wooden Box Plastic Crates Quantity stored (Kg.) Mode Distance Total transported unloading transport Advisory roles Harvesting time Extending physical facilities Providing credit Supplying Fertilizers Supplying pesticides Provides transport facilities  Information flow: Give/Receive From Whom/To Whom #Frequency: D: Daily/AD: Alternate day/TW: Twice a week/W: Weekly/FN: Fortnightly M: Monthly Credit Facilities Interest Repayment received Disbursed agreement / Commission Agent Constraints faced by Intermediaries Irregular Demand fluctuations Competition from modern wholesalers Expectations of Intermediaries Improvement of market yard Relaxation City Transport time Scientific demand/supply forecast Improved disposal waste mechanism Cold storage facility Mechanised handling facility Others (Specify)  VISIT TO WHOLESALE MARKET A wholesale market is a platform where goods are bought and sold in large quantities, typically between businesses, organizations, or governments, for the purpose of resale, distribution, or further processing. Wholesale markets facilitate bulk transactions, often at discounted prices, and play a crucial role in the supply chain by connecting suppliers with buyers. Key characteristics of wholesale markets: 1. Bulk transactions: Large quantities of goods are bought and sold. 2. Business-to-business (B2B) transactions: Wholesale markets primarily involve transactions between businesses, organizations, or governments. 3. Discounted prices: Goods are often sold at lower prices due to bulk purchases. 4. Resale or distribution: Goods are intended for resale, distribution, or further processing. 5. Variety of products: Wholesale markets offer a wide range of products, including raw materials, commodities, and finished goods. 6. Competitive pricing: Wholesale markets foster competition among suppliers, leading to competitive pricing. 7. Efficient logistics: Wholesale markets often have established logistics and transportation systems to facilitate the movement of goods. Examples of wholesale markets include: 1. Wholesale food markets 2. Wholesale clothing markets 3. Wholesale electronics markets 4. Commodity exchanges (e.g., agricultural products, metals) Wholesale markets improve efficiency in food distribution by encouraging competition through creating conditions for transparent price discovery at relatively low costs and by enhancing access to market information for various actors. Where multiple equilibrium prices occur for a single commodity because there are no wholesale markets, price transparency is undermined and transaction costs rise (the cost incurred by market participants in obtaining market information). Under such conditions, retailers have to deal directly with a large number of farmers, thus losing any gains from scale economies (Tracey-White, 1994). Wholesale markets therefore play a crucial role in the vertical coordination of food markets, equilibrating supply with demand and facilitating price formation. Their role reduces per unit marketing costs, promotes stable markets for local produce and encourages increased output and productivity. Wholesale markets basically have to perform the following five functions cost-effectively: Physical exchange of produce; sorting of produce on the basis of standard criteria, thus facilitating sales (they work much more efficiently with standardization of weights, measures and quality); Formation of an equilibrium price for produce; exchange of information between suppliers and buyers; and risk management and hedging (price fluctuation risks). The fundamental objective of wholesale markets is to improve efficiency in the food distribution pipeline. By centralizing transactions at a single location, reducing the period for transactions, and separating wholesale and retail functions in the distribution system, wholesale markets promote greater transparency and better price formation through a clearer interplay of supply and demand. Storage and handling conditions are also enhanced, leading to significant reductions in post-harvest losses (by about 30 percent in European experience), especially in the case of perishable produce. Benefits derived from the physical functions of wholesale markets The physical infrastructure and facilities at wholesale markets facilitate the reduction of post-harvest losses and promote increased productivity by farmers through: Produce protection: goods are protected from the elements (rain, wind and sun) and stored under more hygienic conditions, thus reducing spoilage; Improved handling operations: the market considerably reduces loading and unloading times as well as repeated handling of goods between unloading and display; vehicles are also parked and unutilized for shorter periods; and easier introduction of innovation and new technology: the physical concentration of a large group of operators at the same place makes it easier to introduce innovation and to develop improved storage, handling and management technology and methods. Economic benefits of wholesale markets Wholesale markets also encourage: Greater stability of supply and sale of produce: the existence of centralized physical locations, known and easily accessible to operators, reduces the number of intermediaries in the distribution pipeline and improves the flow of information between operators, both upstream (growers and collectors) and downstream (wholesalers and retailers), thus reducing uncertainty concerning supplies and completion of sales transactions; Improved market information (especially on prices): the centralization of transactions that occur in modern wholesale markets enhances the collection, processing and wide dissemination of accurate market information, hence improving the quality of enterprise investment decisions as well as promoting efficient resource allocation in the economy in general and food production and distribution in particular; Specialization of traders: the separation of wholesale and retail functions in FSDSs encourages specialization by traders leading to efficiency and lower distribution costs; enhanced competition leading to improved efficiency in the exchange process (efficiency in resource allocation and price) and facilitating price discovery; improved inspection, quality control, sorting and grading according to quality encourage the use of standard weights and measures and improved standards of hygiene in the sale of produce (especially of perishables) Increased volume of produce marketed and quality differentiation: the reduction in the number of intermediaries in the food marketing chain and consequent increase in the tonnage handled by individual traders or the scale of their operations tend to lower distribution costs (especially the cost of transporting produce) and also encourage efficient sorting and grading which facilitates trade in produce of different quality Here are some of the major wholesale markets in Tamil Nadu: 1. Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC), Chennai - One of the largest wholesale markets in Asia, dealing with fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other commodities. 2. Mango Market, Salem - A major wholesale market for mangoes and other fruits. 3. Coimbatore Wholesale Market, Coimbatore - Deals with textiles, machinery, and other industrial goods. 4. Madurai Wholesale Market, Madurai - A significant market for food grains, spices, and other commodities. 5. Trichy Wholesale Market, Tiruchirappalli - Deals with food grains, pulses, and other agricultural products. 6. Tiruppur Wholesale Market, Tiruppur - A major market for textiles, garments, and knitwear. 7. Erode Wholesale Market, Erode - Deals with turmeric, textiles, and other commodities. 8. Vellore Wholesale Market, Vellore - A significant market for food grains, pulses, and other agricultural products. 9. Thanjavur Wholesale Market, Thanjavur - Deals with food grains, spices, and other commodities. 10. Pudukkottai Wholesale Market, Pudukkottai - A major market for food grains, pulses, and other agricultural products.  VISIT TO REGULATED MARKET Definition of regulated market: Regulated market is wholesale market where buying and selling is regulated and controlled by the state government through the market committee. It aims at the elimination of unhealthy and unscrupulous practices reducing marketing charges and providing facilities to producers and sellers in the market. The poor standards of primary and secondary markets where producer convert their produce into cash. The prevalence of various malpractice's such as short-weights, excessive market charges, unauthorized deduction, adulteration of produce and the absence of machinery to settle disputes between sellers and buyers were recognized as the main hindrancesin agricultural marketing. These defects and malpractices can be recover by the establishment of regulated marketing their country may be regulated either by local bodies or under state legislation was suggested first in 1928 by the Royal commission on Agriculture. The movement of regulation of market gained momentum only after 1930. The Bombay Agricultural producemarket act of 1939 was passed in respect all agriculture produce Viz., cereals, fibers and fruits etc. Regulated markets usually handle tobacco, cotton, groundnut, grains, coconuts, areca nuts, potatoes and turmeric etc. Main features of regulated markets: Market committee: Market committee is comprised of representatives from different sectors of society that is farmers, traders, government local bodies and co-operative. In general it is observed that market committee consists of 15 members 10 from farmers 3 from traders and 1 each from the government and local bodies. Area of operation: The concerned state government notifies that its intention to regulate trade practices in specified area such an area of operation is laid down either as a municipal limit or district or evenit may be a region. In Maharashtra area of operation of each regulatedmarket restricted to one taluka. Methods of sales: In regulated market the sale of agricultural produce is undertaken either by open auction or by close tendermethod these sales method ensure a fair and competitive price for the produce and prevent the cheating of farmers by market functionaries. By these methods, the sale is carried out under the supervision of an official of the market committee. Licensing of market functionaries: All the market functionaries including traders working in the regulated market have to obtain a license from the market committee after paying the prescribed fee to carry on their business, the licensed traders have to keep proper record and maintain accounts in accordance with the buy-laws of the market committee. Market levies or fees: Growers and traders have to pay market fees which are calculated on the basis of value of volume of a commodity bought and sold in the  markets. Sometimes it may be based on cartload or truckload. To meet its administrative expenditure and in order to create infrastructure facilities in the market area the market committees gets funds from the following sources: Market fees on the produce brought for the sales in the market yard. License fee, renewal fee of market middlemen functioning in the area. 1. Settlements of disputes: Disputes arising between producer seller and traders by reason of the quality of the producer, accounts and deductions of unauthorized charges are solved by the sub-committee of the market committee this avoid the legal complications and unnecessary expenditure. Advantages of regulated markets: - Market charges are clearly defined and specified. Market practices are regulated and undesirable activities are broughtunder control. Periodical inspection and verification of scales and weights. Suitable arrangements for the settlement of disputes is provided. Reliable and up to date market news are made available to thefarmers. Suitable quality standards and standard terms for buying and sellingare conveniently enforced. Reliable statistics of arrivals, stocks, prices are maintained. Other facilities like shades for the sale of produce, space for parking carts, drinking water facilities and cisterns of cattle, rest houses,grading and warehousing facilities are provided. Open auction method is strictly followed. Propaganda for agricultural improvement is more conveniently carried out. Taking over all picture regulated markets have produced a whole some effect on marketing structure and have generally raised the efficiency or marketing at the primary level. Organization of regulated markets and constitution of marketcommittee The primary object of regulating the market is to safeguard the interest of the producer sellers raise the standards of the local Markets where the first exchange of the goods takes place with a view to achieve the object in each of the regulated markets. Market committees are established consisting of the representatives of the growers, traders, local bodies, sellers, co- operative shops and the state government nominees. Producers are generally in the majority on these committees. The market committee should consist of 12 to 18 members depending on the size of the market and other considerations, which are responsible for utilizing the fund for Maintenance and improvement of the markets and its buildings. Maintenance of standards of weights and measures. Pay and pension of the staff Payment of interests of loans. Collection and dissemination of market information. Propaganda for agricultural improvement.  EX No: 5 VISIT TO FARMERS MARKET (UZHAVAR SANTHAI) Agriculture occupies a very important role in the growth of economy of our country, which is also the backbone of the economic system. India is primarily an agricultural country. The prosperity of the Indian economy is dependent on the course of agricultural production. Of course, agriculture contributes a major share of the national income of India. In India, agriculture meets almost the entire food requirements of the people. Agriculture also provides fodder to sustain livestock whose number runs to several crores. In the field of agriculture, marketing determines the value of the agricultural product in terms of money and delivers them to the final customer. Most of the farmers sell their produce through village level markets, fairs, Mandies, Co-operative Societies etc. In the above process of agricultural marketing, the middlemen exploit farmers as well as consumers. In order to eliminate the middlemen between farmers and consumers, the Government of Tamilnadu introduced the new concept, namely “ UZHAVAR SANTHAI” in 1999. Generally, the middlemen and wholesale businessmen purchase the Agricultural products from the farmers at a lower price. They also get the commission from the farmers for the transactions made. In turn, fresh vegetables and fruits purchased at the lower price from the farmers are sold out to retail businessmen at higher price and the retail businessmen sell those Agricultural Products further at higher price to the consumers. As a result, the farmers get only the lower price for their produce whereas the consumers have to pay higher price for the same produce. Hence, the Government of Tamilnadu has introduced an alternate scheme of marketing, which is known as “ UZHAVAR SANTHAI” in order to derive more benefits to the farmers as well as consumers. Aim: To facilitate direct contact between the farmers and public. To provide fresh vegetables and fruits at reasonable price daily without any interference of middlemen. To provide correct measurement to the consumers. To give full satisfaction to the farmers and public. To aim for providing higher price than that of wholesale price to the farmers for their vegetables and fruits. To provide the fresh fruits and vegetables at the lesser price than that of retail price to consumers. The Uzhavar Santhai also functions as a Technical Information Centre to the farmers It also acts as a Technical Training Centre to the farmers. Seeds and Other Inputs are also provided in some Uzhavar Sandhais SALIENT FEATURES : The prices of the vegetables and fruits are daily fixed at the average of 20 % higher than the wholesale prices and 15% less than retail prices by the Committee consisting of the representatives of farmers and officials. 1. The prices of vegetables and fruits are daily displayed in front of each shop as well as exhibited in big signboards of the market and it is ensured by the Department staff that the fruits and vegetables are sold at the fixed rates. 2. Horticultural Department officials identify vegetable growing farmers in the villages and photo identification cards are issued to those farmers. 3. Shops are allotted at free of cost to the farmers who bring their produce on first come first served basis and shops are not permanently allotted to farmers. 4. Aavin, Tan tea stalls are also set up in some places. 5. The farmers are permitted to bring their produce without any fair for their luggage in special trips from the villages to Uzhavar Santhais 6. Hill vegetables are sold in Uzhavar Santhais through women self help groups, Cooperative Societies. 7. Weighing scales are provided at free of cost for the use of farmers and they are retrieved after the sale proceedings are over. 8. Sanitation is being maintained. In some places vermicomposting of vegetable wastes is also done. 9. Ex-Servicemen /Private security agencies have also been used for the security of the market. 10. Telephone facilities, Vehicle stand, Canteen, Toilet facilities have also been provided. 11. The Uzhavar Santhais are functioning on all the days of the week. 12. Water supply is available in the Uzhavar Santhai. 13. To sell unsold items on the next day, storage facilities are available. Organisation The location of the “ Uzhavar Santhai” is of utmost importance. The Uzhavar Santhais are located in a consumer area, where the consumers can approach to the market easily. In fact, the main intention is to ensure the urban character of the location, so that adequate number of consumers will benefit from the market. The first Uzhavar Sandhai of the state was inaugurated on 14.11.1999 at Madurai and 100th Uzhavar Sandhai on 14.11.2000 at Pallavaram. 103 Uzhavar Santhais were established between 14.11.1999 and 30.4.2001. 28 Uzhavar Santhais, which were closed between 2001 and 2005, were reopened during June 2006 and an amount of Rs.42.00 lakhs was spent for the renovation of 103 Uzhavar Santhais. At Present 103 Uzhavar Santhais are functioning with full vigor. The new concept of Uzhavar Santhai is implemented in Tamilnadu in massive scale. All Uzhavar Santhai are maintained by Agricultural Marketing Department and manned by the staff of the Department of Agricultural Marketing, Agriculture, and Horticulture. The District Collector is the coordinator for running the Uzhavar Santhai successfully in the Districts whereas in State as a whole, the scheme is implemented by the Director of Agricultural Marketing and Agribusiness, Chennai-32. Staff pattern of Uzhavar Sandai Sl.No Name of the staff Grade Nos Uzhavar Sandai 1 Agricultural Officer 1 Administrative Officer Uzhavar Sandai Assistant 2 Assistant Agricultural Officer 3 Administrative Officer Uzhavar Sandai Assistant Assistant Agricultural Officer 3 1 Administrative Officer (Horticulture) Employed thro private security 4 Watchman agencies with consolidated pay of 3 not more than Rs 1500/ per month. On consolidated basis @ Rs 1500/ 5 Scavenger 1 per month On redeployment from Makkal Nala 6 Sandai Paniyalargal 2 Paniyalargal Total 11 The duties assigned to the staff are as follows Sl.No Name of the staff Duties 1 Uzhavar Sandai 2. Price fixation and declare the price after Administrative Officer collecting wholesale and retail market price, discussion with farmers’ group 3. Supervision of allotment of shops 4. Supervision of sales procedures 5. Collection of charges for vehicles 6. Checking farmers’ Identity cards. 7. To monitor and ensure the sale of vegetables and fruits at the price fixed by the administration 8. Administration of Uzhavar Sandai and all works related to it. 2 Uzhavar Sandai Assistant 9. Allotment of shops to farmers after checking Administrative Officer (1) Identity cards 10. Issue of weighing balances, weights etc to Uzhavar Sandai Assistant farmers and to collect it back Administrative Officer (2) 11. Maintenance of registers. Uzhavar Sandai Assistant 12. To record item wise arrivals of vegetables and AdministrativeOfficer(3) preparation of daily reports.  3 Uzhavar Sandai Assistant 13. Dissemination of crop production technologies Administrative Officer thereby increasing the production of vegetables (Horticulture) 4 Watchman (1) 14. Guarding the Uzhavar Sandai at night 15. Guarding the Uzhavar Sandai during day time Watchman (2) 16. Regulating vehicles and guards vehicles Watchman (3) 17. Regulating farmers. 5 18. To ensure cleanliness in Uzhavar Sandai Scavenger 19. Cleaning of toilets 6 20. To assist in checking of ID cards and during registration Sandai Paniyalargal 21. To write the fixed prices on display boards 22. To carry balances to the shops and back from the shops The Uzhavar Sandais are maintained by the Market Committees of the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agribusiness. The concerned Market Committee Secretary will be the coordinator for the Uzhavar Sandai as additional charge to his duties. For the Uzhavar Sandai that is not established at the committee head quarters the Assistant Director of Agriculture/ Assistant Director of Horticulture in the jurisdiction will hold the additional charge of Coordinator of Uzhavar Sandai. The Coordinators of Uzhavar Sandai must look after the daily functioning of Uzhavar Sandai, price fixation etc.In addition to the Agricultural officers and Assistant Agricultural Officers in the post harvest technology centers of the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agribusiness, Agricultural officers and Assistant Agricultural Officers of the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture in the districts are also utilised. Facilities to be provided at Farmer's Market Photo Identity Card Based on the recommendations made by the team, identity cards are to be issued to the farmers, in which photo of the land owner and his nominee with the particulars of the village name to which the farmer belongs, survey number, extent of the land owned by him, and the vegetables grown are mentioned. The identity cards are to be renewed every six months with reference to the vegetables grown in their fields. Transport Facility Transport facility for pick up and dropping down of the registered farmers to the Farmers market are arranged by the market functionaries through tie-up with state transport department. Allotment of stalls Stalls are to be allotted to the farmers by following lot method or first come first basis. The farmers are not allowed to occupy the stalls permanently. No fee is to be collected from the farmers. Prices Fixation The market committee will every day communicate the moderate wholesale prices of vegetables through fax between 7.30 AM and 8.00 AM. Based on the same, the prices of vegetable are fixed in consultation with the farmers committee, which may be 20% -25% higher than the whole sale price and lower than the local retail market prices in the area. Public Address System Prices of vegetables are frequently announced through public address system to create awareness of the rates of the vegetables among the consumers as well as farmers. Supply of weighing scales When the farmers enter into a Farmers market their names along with the particulars such as name of the village and the quantity of vegetables brought by them are entered in a register and they are issued a token. On the basis of the token issued to them, all the farmers are provided with weighing scales without collecting any fee. The farmers will return back the scales after completing their sales.  EX No: 6 VISIT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE MARKETING SOCIETIES 1. OBJECTIVES Facilitating the marketing of Agricultural Produce of the farmer members at remunerative prices. Marketing of Agricultural inputs at reasonable prices. Issuing Produce Pledge Loan for Agricultural Produce. Processing of Agricultural Produce Marketing of Value Added Agricultural Produce. 2.STRUCTURE The Structure of Cooperative Marketing Societies in Tamil Nadu is a Two-Tier structure. Tamil Nadu Cooperative Marketing Federation is functioning as the apex society. 115 Agricultural Producers Cooperative Marketing Societies are functioning at Taluk Level. 3.MARKETING OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCE Marketing of Agricultural Produce by providing marketing facilities such as Auction yards, Drying facilities, Produce Pledge Loans and thereby facilitating the farmer members and traders to sell their products at a remunerative price in a transparent manner. They are not only engaged in purchase, process and sale of agricultural produce but also in value addition of products. 4. AUCTION SALES Agricultural producers and traders bring their agricultural produce to auction yards and sell them through auction. Farmer members get remunerative price by selling their agricultural produce through auction yards. Services like weighing of Agricultural produce, details of Market strategy and storage facilities are provided. 5. ISSUE OF PRODUCE PLEDGE LOAN During the harvest season, farmers invariably resort to distress sales unwillingly to meet their urgent needs for cash. To avoid this and to protect the interest of farmers, Cooperative Marketing Societies and Primary Agricultural cooperative Credit Societies provide produce Pledge Loans. By this, Farmers are able to store their produce and to sell them at higher remunerative price. 6.JEWEL LOAN To cater to the urgent financial needs of farmer members, Jewel Loans are being disbursed by fixing per gram rate of gold not exceeding 75% of the prevailing market rate. 7. LINKING OF CONSUMER COOPERATIVES WITH MARKETING Cooperative Marketing Societies are working with tie-up of Cooperative Whole sale stores by procuring the farmers produce, processing and selling it to the Cooperative Wholesale Stores by Agricultural Producers Cooperative Marketing Societies. Wholesale Stores are able to get quality products at reasonable price and the farmers get a reasonable remunerative price. 8. LINKING OF CREDIT WITH MARKETING The debtors of Primary Agricultural cooperative Credit Societies are enrolled as members of Agricultural Producers Cooperative Marketing Societies By this Agricultural Producers Cooperative Marketing Societies assist in the sales of their Agricultural produce. These efforts help the Primary Agricultural cooperative Credit Societies to recover loans, besides assisting the farmer members in selling their produce at remunerative price. 9.PROCUREMENT OF COPRA UNDER PRICE SUPPORT SCHEME (PSS) Whenever market price of copra is low, copra procurement will be undertaken at the Minimum Support Price by TamilNadu Cooperative Marketing Federation by acting as a State level agency on behalf of NAFED. 10. PADDY PROCUREMENT UNDER MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE (MSP) Whenever market price of Paddy is low, Agricultural Producers Cooperative Marketing Societies and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies will procure Paddy from farmers on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation in non delta areas at the Minimum Support Price. To avoid additional expenses to farmers, paddy is procured in farm lands (or) through cooperatives near by. 11.Mobile App : To market the Cooperative products through online, a common mobile APP (CO -OP Mart) has been launched by Hon’ ble Minister for Cooperation on 06.07.2023. 12.ISO Certification ISO 9001 certification has been obtained for Agricultural Producers Cooperative Marketing Societies and its various units EX No: 7 VISIT TO FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA (FCI). FCI is a statutory body set up in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act 1964. It was established against the backdrop of major shortage of grains, especially wheat. Simultaneously, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) was created in 1965 to recommend remunerative prices to farmers. It has primary duty to undertake purchase, store, move/transport, distribute and sell food grains and other foodstuffs. Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) The CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP since 1985, earlier named as Agricultural Prices Commission) came into existence in January 1965. It is mandated to recommend minimum support prices (MSPs) to incentivize the cultivators to adopt modern technology, and raise productivity and overall grain production in line with the emerging demand patterns in the country. MSP for major agricultural products are fixed by the government, each year, after taking into account the recommendations of the Commission. As of now, CACP recommends MSPs of 23 commodities, which comprise 7 cereals (paddy, wheat, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, barley and ragi), 5 pulses (gram, tur, moong, urad, lentil), 7 oilseeds (groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soyabean, seasmum, sunflower, safflower, nigerseed), and 4 commercial crops (copra, sugarcane, cotton and raw jute) Organizational Set-Up of FCI FCI coordinates its functions through a country-wide network of offices with Headquarters at New Delhi with five Zonal Offices, twenty-five Regional Offices and 170 Objectives of FCI To provide remunerative prices to farmers To help in transforming the crisis management oriented food security into a stable security system to ensure availability, accessibility and affordability of food grains to all people at all times so that no one, nowhere and at no time should go hungry Ensuring food security of the nation by maintaining satisfactory level of operational buffer stocks of food grains Distribution of food grains throughout the country for Public Distribution System Effective Price Support Operations for safeguarding the interest of farmers Food security According to Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO), food security has basically four pillars: Availability: food should be available in sufficient quantity at all times and at all places Procurement The Central Government extends price support for procurement of wheat, paddy and coarse grains through the FCI and State Agencies. All the food grains conforming to the prescribed specifications are procured by the public procurement agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) plus incentive bonus announced, if any. Procurement is undertaken both in direct and in-direct mode. Under Decentralized Procurement Scheme (DCP), introduced in 1997-98, food grains are procured and distributed by the State Governments themselves. The designated States procure, store and issue food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other welfare schemes of the Government. The decentralized system of procurement was introduced to enhance the efficiency of procurement for PDS and to encourage procurement in non-traditional States as well as to save on transit losses and costs. Before the start of each procurement season, Central Government announces uniform specification for quality of wheat, paddy, rice and coarse grains. Quality Control Division of FCI ensures procurement of food grains from procurement centres strictly in accordance with Govt. of India's uniform quality specifications. FCI has also been nominated as an additional nodal Agency for procurement of Pulses and Oilseeds. Distribution FCI meets the requirements of TPDS through grains procured which are issued at Central Issue Price fixed by Government to fulfill the objective of helping the economically vulnerable sections of society. FCI delivers food grains to State Govt./ State Agencies from its base depots for distribution by the latter through Fair Price Shops. The role of FCI becomes even more important in the backdrop of National Food Security Act, 2013, that commits to distribute grains through TPDS and other welfare schemes, at highly subsidized prices Public Distribution System Public distribution of essential commodities was in existence in India during the inter-war period. However, PDS, with its focus on distribution of food grains in urban scarcity areas, had emanated from the critical food shortages of 1960s. PDS had substantially contributed to the containment of rise in food grain prices and ensured access of food to urban consumers. As the national agricultural production had grown in the aftermath of the Green Revolution, the outreach of PDS was extended to tribal blocks and areas of high incidence of poverty in the 1970s and 1980s. PDS is supplemental in nature and is not intended to make available the entire requirement of any of the commodities distributed under it to a household or a section of the society. PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments. The Central Government, through FCI, has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments. The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops etc., rest with the State Governments. Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc. Targeted Public Distribution System The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was launched in 1997 to benefit the poor and to keep the budgetary food subsidies under control to the desired extent following failure of the earlier PDS system. Conceptually, the transition from universal PDS to TPDS was a move in the right direction, as it was designed to include all the poor households and raise the unit subsidy and ration quota considerably for them. TPDS aims at providing food grains to people below the poverty line at highly subsidised prices from the PDS and food grains to people above the poverty line at much higher prices than the poverty line. Thus, the TPDS adopted by the Government of India maintains the universal character of the PDS but adds a special focus on the people below the poverty line. The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) has been notified which provides for all India coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population of the country for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains National Food Security Act The enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 on July 5, 2013 marks a paradigm shift in the approach to food security from welfare to a rights based approach. The Act legally entitled upto 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System. About two thirds of the population therefore is covered under the Act to receive highly subsidised foodgrains. The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 is being implemented in all the States/UTs, on an all India basis. Out of maximum coverage of 81.35 crore, around 80 crore persons have been covered under NFSA at present for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains. The identification of beneficiaries by States/UTs is a continuous process, which involves exclusion of ineligible/fake/duplicate ration cards and also exclusion on account of death, migration etc. and inclusion on account of birth as also that of genuine left-out households EX No: 8 VISIT TO CENTRAL WAREHOUSING CORPORATION (CWC)/ STATE WAREHOUSING CORPORATION (SWC) Central Warehousing Corporation is a statutory body which was established under ‘ The Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962. It is a public warehouse operator established by the Government of India in 1957 to provide logistics support to the agricultural sector. It operates 422 warehouses across India with a storage capacity of 10 million tonnes. Services include foodgrain warehouses, industrial warehousing, custom bonded warehouses, container freight stations, inland clearance depots and air-cargo complexes. Function of CWC The Warehousing Corporation act, 1962: Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Warehousing Corporation may Subscribe to the share capital of a State Warehousing Corporation; Act as agent of the Government for the purposes of the purchase, sale, storage and distribution of agricultural produce, seeds, manures, fertilizers, agricultural implements and notified commodities; and Carry out such other functions as may be prescribed. The Warehousing Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2011 has been proposed in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution seeking to make Mini-Ratna company Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) an independent body without government being a guarantor Operations of CWC: CWC operations include scientific storage and handling services for more than 400 commodities include Agricultural produce, Industrial raw-materials, finished goods and variety of hygroscopic and perishable items. Scientific Storage Facilities for commodities including hygroscopic and perishable items through network of 421 warehouses in India with its 2880 personnel. Import and Export Warehousing facilities at its 36 Container Freight Stations in ports and inland stations. Bonded Warehousing facilities. Disinfestation services. Handling, Transportation & Storage of ISO Containers. CWC enables the movement of imported and exportable goods to and from the port towns and has developed infrastructure of Container Freight Stations & Inland Clearance Depots throughout the country. It operates 36 CFSs/ ICDs where composite services for containerised movement of import/export cargo are provided. The Warehousing Corporation is empowered to acquire and build Warehouses for storage of Agricultural produce, seeds, fertilizers and other notified commodities and also to act as an agent of the Central Warehousing Corporation or of the Government, for the purpose of purchases, sales storage, distribution etc., of Agricultural Commodities in time of need. Though it has been criticised for lack of manpower and technologically equippedwarehousing facility. EX No: 9 VISIT TO SEED CORPORATION OF INDIA The National Seeds Corporation (NSC) of India is a significant organization under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It plays a crucial role in the production and distribution of high-quality seeds across the country. Here’ s a detailed overview: 1. Overview Founded: 1963 Headquarters: New Delhi, India Parent Organization: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India Objective: To ensure the availability of high-quality seeds to farmers across India, thus contributing to the overall agricultural productivity of the country. 2. Mandate and Functions NSC is tasked with the production, procurement, and distribution of certified seeds. The corporation works closely with various state governments, research institutions, and seed production agencies to achieve the following: Production of Seeds: NSC produces certified seeds of around 600 varieties of 60 crops, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fiber crops, vegetables, and fodder crops. Seed Procurement: NSC procures seeds from seed growers, cooperative societies, and public seed companies, ensuring they meet the stringent quality standards. Seed Distribution: It distributes seeds across the country through a vast network of regional offices and outlets, reaching even the remotest areas. 3. Seed Production and Quality Assurance Seed Farms: NSC owns and operates over 16 seed farms across India. These farms are utilized for seed production and research purposes. Quality Control: NSC has a robust quality assurance system, including modern seed testing laboratories and a well-established Seed Quality Control Division. All seeds are certified by state seed certification agencies. Research & Development: The corporation invests in R&D to develop new varieties, improve existing ones, and adopt modern seed production technologies. This includes working on disease resistance, high-yielding varieties, and climate-resilient seeds. 4. Distribution Network  Regional Offices: NSC operates through 11 regional offices and 80 area offices spread across India, ensuring the availability of seeds in all regions. Dealers and Outlets: It has a large network of dealers, distributors, and retail outlets that make seeds available to farmers. E-Marketing: In recent years, NSC has also started exploring online platforms and e-marketing to facilitate seed distribution. 5. Collaborations and Partnerships Public-Private Partnerships: NSC collaborates with various public and private sector organizations to enhance seed production and distribution. International Collaborations: NSC is also involved in international collaborations to exchange knowledge, technology, and best practices in seed production and quality control. 6. Financial Performance Revenue: NSC generates revenue through the sale of seeds and allied products. Profitability: As a government-owned entity, NSC operates on a non-profit basis but ensures financial sustainability through efficient operations. Government Support: The government provides financial assistance and subsidies to NSC, particularly for programs aimed at enhancing seed production and distribution in underserved areas. 7. Challenges and Future Outlook Challenges: NSC faces challenges such as climate change, fluctuating demand for seeds, competition from private seed companies, and the need for continuous innovation in seed varieties. Future Plans: NSC aims to expand its seed production capacity, enhance the quality and variety of seeds, and strengthen its distribution network. It is also focusing on promoting the use of certified seeds among farmers to boost agricultural productivity. 8. Recent Initiatives Seed Village Program: NSC actively participates in the Seed Village Program, which aims to train farmers in seed production and create local seed hubs. National Food Security Mission (NFSM): NSC is a key player in the NFSM, contributing to the production and distribution of high-quality seeds for staple crops. The National Seeds Corporation remains a cornerstone in India’ s agricultural sector, driving the growth and sustainability of farming practices through its extensive work in seed production and distribution.  EX No: 10 VISIT TO STATE AGRICULTURE MARKETING DEPARTMENT Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business Department act as nerve centre from where marketing impulse are transmitted to put all the marketing interventions on track to safeguard the interest of both famers and consumers. The Department is focusing and taking concerted efforts to ensure remunerative price to the farmers by creating infrastructure facilities for marketing and post-harvest management. To improve farmers’ income recently more thrust are given for promotion of Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), implementation of Supply Chain Management for Perishable Commodities and creation of e-trading facilities Activities Formation of commodity groups and forward market linkages for direct purchase of agricultural produce from farmers by traders/ entrepreneurs. Creation and strengthening of infrastructure facilities for Marketing and Post harvest management. Disseminating Crop advisory and Market Price information through SMS to Registered farmers Navigation AGMARKNET e-NAM AGRISNET Agri Tech Portal Food Parks It is proposed to establish Food Parks / Agro Processing Clusters in 8 locations of Tamil Nadu viz., Ariyalur, Perambalur, Karur, Nagapattinam, Dharmapuri, Ramanathapuram, Tiruvarur and Tenkasi in 2020-21 through Ministry of Food Processing Industries grant under PMKSY. Supply Chain Management Project Supply Chain Management Project is going to be extended to 8 more Districts viz., Salem, Erode, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Karur. Regulated Market Strengthening of Regulated Market systems to integrate nonconventional groups like FPOs, FIGs and FPGs Policies Food Processing Policy Tamil Nadu is one of the bigger States of the country with an area of 1,30,058 sq. Kms and a population of 72 million as per 2011 census. The State has a coastline of 1076 Kms and its climatic conditions are basically tropical and subtropical. There are 7 Agro climatic Zones suitable for cultivation of 2 various crops. Agmark Grading To provide unadulterated food products to the consumers and to ensure quality, Thirty State Agmark Grading Laboratories and One Principal Laboratory are functioning in Tamil Nadu. Agmark is a quality certification mark on agricultural products in India. Agmark is legally enforced by the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act of 1937 (and amended in 1986) by Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Government of India. Presently Agmark standards cover quality specifications for 223 commodities. This scheme is a voluntary one. In Agmark Grading Laboratories, products graded are Rice, Pulses, Ghee, Honey, Ground Spices, Whole Spices, Sago, Vegetable Oils, Gram Flour, compounded Asafoetida etc., During 2018-19 agricultural commodities to the tune of 23.58 lakh quintals were graded and grading charges of Rs. 79.78 lakhs has been collected as State revenue. EX No: 11 VISIT TO AGMAR LABORATARY Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI) in the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is implementing the provisions of Agricultural Produce (Grading & Marking) Act, 1937. The Act empowers the Central Government to make Rules for (a) fixing grade designation to indicate quality of any scheduled article. (b) Defining the quality indicated by every grade designation and (c) specifying grade designation marks to represent particular grade designations. Standards notified as per the provisions ofthe Act are popularly called AGMARK Standards. These standards differentiate between quality and 2-3 grades are prescribed for each commodity. Grades help farmers to get prices for agricultural commodities as per the quality produced by them and consumers get the desired quality. Till date, grade standards for 222 agricultural commodities have been notified. These include fruits, Vegetables, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetable oils, ghee, spices, honey, creamery butter, wheat atta, besan, etc. Grade standards are framed in a scientific manner. Samples of agricultural commodities are drawn from all parts of the country - from the producing area, wholesale markets, etc. and are analysed in Regional Agmark Laboratories spreadall over the country for the identified parameters. Draft standards are framed based on the analytical data obtained. While framing the standards, the existing standards in The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Codex Alimentarius Commission, International Organisation for Standardization, etc. are considered. Trade Associations, Research Institutions, etc. are also consulted. The DMI is implementing the scheme of certification of agricultural commodities for domestic trade and export. The Scheme is voluntary. For Blended Edible Vegetable Oils and Fat Spread certification under AGMARK is mandatory as per provisions in The Food Safety and Standards Act and regulations, 2006. The commodities certified under Agmark for domestic trade are spices, ghee, butter, mustardoil, wheat atta, Besan, honey, etc. European Commission has approved the procedure of preshipmentinspection under Agmark for exports of fruits and vegetables to EU countries. Directorate General of Foreign Trade has notified DMI as inspection and certification body for exports of fruits and vegetables to EU countries. DMI is attending to inspection and certification of fruits and vegetables including grapes and onions. The inspection and certification is carried out as per the grade standards notified in the Fruits and Vegetables Grading & Marking Rules, 2004. The certification scheme is implemented through 11 Regional Offices, 27 Sub Offices, 11 Regional Agmark Laboratories and Central Agmark Laboratory (Apex laboratory) of the Directorate. Out of twelve laboratories , 08 laboratories at Nagpur , Mumbai, Chennai ,Kochi ,Kolkata , Delhi, Jaipur and Kanpur have been accredited with the National Accreditation Board for testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) as per the International Standard ISO 17025. Persons desirous of grading and certifying a notified agricultural commodity under Agmark can apply to the nearest field office of the DMI. The application form and list of required documents can be obtained from the nearest field office or from the DMI website http://dmi.gov.in by clicking the icon ‘ Agmark’. Persons desirous of grading and certifying a notified commodity under Agmark should have necessary infrastructure to process the commodity and have access to an approved laboratory for grading or can have their own laboratory. Such persons can apply to the concerned office of the DMI and Certificate of Authorization is granted after verification of the necessary infrastructure. The approved Chemist tests the raw material and the processed commodity before getting it packed in a suitable packing material/containers. The field officers of DMI keep regular check on the commodity graded and certified under Agmark by drawing check samples from packers’ premises and market. These check samples are analyzed in Regional Agmark Laboratories and action deemed fit is taken if the graded commodity is found not conforming to the prescribed standards Consumers may look for the following Agmark symbol and grade onthe container to ascertain whether a commodity is certified under Agmark or not.  NAME OF COMMODITY- … … … … … GRADE… … … … … … … … … …... Consumers not satisfied with the quality of agricultural producecertified under Agmark, can make a complaint to the Agricultural Marketing Adviser giving full particulars regarding Agmark label/replica serial number, lot no., date of packing, best before date, trade brand, name and address of the authorized packer and the name and address of the seller. Whenever the complaint is found to be genuine, action as deemed fit will be taken against the concerned authorized packer as per provision in APGM Act-1937 and he will be is directed to give free of cost replacement tothe aggrieved consumer. Any person can also get the Agmark certified agricultural commodityanalysed for its quality parameters in Regional Agmark Laboratories by paying analysis charges. Details of agricultural commodities which can be got analysed, analysis charges, etc. can be obtained from any of the Sub Offices/Regional Offices of DMI. EX No: 12 VISIT TO COMMODITY BOARDS-TEA BOARD Tea is one of the industries, which by an Act of Parliament comes under the control of the Union Govt. The Tea Board set up under section 4 of the Tea Act 1953 was constitutedon 1st April 1954. It provided for levying a cess on tea exports - the proceeds of which wereto be used for the promotion of Indian tea both within and outside India. The activities of the two previous bodies had been confined largely to regulation oftea cultivation and export of tea as required by the International Tea Agreement then in force, and promotion of tea Consumption. Vision To make India, the leading producer and supplier of quality tea in the global market. Mission "Develop effective management strategies to facilitate: Competence and innovation in tea plantations, Innovative processing technology for producing good quality teas, Augmentation of high value tea exports, Capacity Building for human resources at all levels in tea Industry, Strengthening of R & D efforts on all aspects of tea husbandry and technology." Tea Board Organisation and Functions Organisation of the Board: The present Tea Board is functioning as a statutory body of the Central Government under the Ministry of Commerce. The Board is constituted of 31 members (including Chairman) drawn from Members of Parliament, tea producers, tea traders, tea brokers, consumers, and representatives of Governments from the principal tea producing states, and trade unions.The Board is reconstituted every three years. Priority Areas As per the provision of Tea Act (1953), Tea Board of India has been continuing to support and promote tea research for the development of Indian tea Industry. The Research Directorate of Tea Board has been entrusted to conduct, coordinate and evaluate tea research nationally through three tea research institutes, namely Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre (DTR&DC), Kurseong, Darjeeling, West Bengal; Tea Research Association (TRA), Jorhat, Assam and United Planters Association of Southern India - Tea Research Foundation (UPASI-TRF). The DTR&DC is engaged in the R&D activities to cater the need of the tea industryof Darjeeling while  TRA and UPASI are involved to look after the requirement of North East India and South India respectively. TRA and UPASI are, each having seven advisory centres scattered throughout different tea plantation areas in their respective zones. Apart from the above mentioned three tea research institutes, research projects arebeing given to other national R&D Institutes and Universities to conduct research for the benefit of Indian tea industry. Tea research in India covers a whole gamut of basic, applied and regulatory research aspects such as plant improvement (breeding and biotechnology), plant production (agronomy and soil science), plant protection (mycology and entomology) and tea quality covering biochemistry, tea tasting and tea processing, electronics and engineering. The vision of the Directorate is to produce quality tea on sustainable basis involvinglow inputs and state-of-the-art technology through value research.  EX No: 13 Visit to National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) NAFED was established on 2nd October 1958. NAFED is registered under the Multi State Co- operative Societies Act. NAFED was setup with the object to promote Co-operative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers. Agricultural farmers are the main members of NAFED, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of NAFED. Objectives The objectives of the NAFED shall be to organize, promote and develop marketing, processing and storage of agricultural, horticultural and forest produce, distribution of agricultural machinery, implements and other inputs, undertake inter-state, import and export trade, wholesale or retail as the case may be and to act and assist for technical advice in agricultural, production for the promotion and the working of its members, partners, associates and cooperative marketing, processing and supply societies in India. Functions The NAFED may undertake one or more of the following activities; to facilitate, coordinate and promote the marketing and trading activities of the cooperative institutions, partners and associates in agricultural, other commodities, articles and goods; to undertake or promote on its own or on behalf of its member Institutions or the Government or Government Organizations, Inter-State and international trade and commerce and undertake, wherever necessary, sale, purchase, import, export and distribution of agricultural commodities; to undertake purchase, sale and supply of agricultural, marketing and processing requisites, such as manure, seeds, fertilizer, agricultural implements and machinery, packing machinery, construction requisites, processing machinery for agricultural commodities, forest produce, dairy, wool and other animal products; to act as warehouseman under the Warehousing Act and own and construct its own godowns and cold storages; to act as agent of any Government agency or cooperative institution, for the purchase, sale, storage and distribution of agricultural, horticultural, forest and animal husbandry produce, wool, agricultural requisites and other consumer goods; to act as insurance agent and to undertake all such work which is incidental to the same; to organize consultancy work in various fields for the benefit of the cooperative institutions in general and for its members in particular; to undertake manufacture of agricultural, machinery and implements, processing, packing, etc. and other production requisites and consumer articles by setting up manufacturing units either directly or in collaboration with or as a joint venture with  any other agency, including import and distribution of spare-parts and components to up-keep of the machinery/ implements; to set up storage units for storing various commodities and goods, by itself or in collaboration with any other agency in India or abroad; to maintain transport units of its own or in collaboration with any other organization in India or abroad for movements of goods on land, sea, air and operate freight station, container depot and undertake other incidental activities; to collaborate with any international agency or a foreign body for development of cooperative marketing, processing and other activities for mutual advantage in India or abroad; to undertake marketing research and dissemination of market intelligence; to subscribe to the share capital and undertake business collaboration with cooperative institutions, public, joint and private sector enterprises, if and when considered necessary for fulfilling the objectives of NAFED; to arrange for the training of employees of marketing/ processing/supply cooperative societies; Deleted; to establish processing units for processing of agricultural, horticultural and forest produce, wool and allied products; to undertake grading, packing, standardization, scientific treatment and process of agricultural produce and other articles; to acquire, take on lease or hire, lands, buildings, fixtures and vehicles and to sell, give on lease or hire them for the business of NAFED. to advance loans to its members and other cooperative institutions on the security of goods or otherwise; to guarantee loans or advances or give undertakings to any Society or Company in which the Federation has a shareholding or financial involvements as a promoter to be able to assist its development or expansion or for starting any industrial undertaking by such societies/companies; Management The management of NAFED vests in the Board of Directors, which includes Chairman and Managing Director. The Board is supported by 2 standing committees - Executive Committee and Business Committee. In addition, the Board can also constitute two more committees/sub-committees as per the provision of the MSCS Act/Rules and Bye-laws of NAFED. EX No: 14 Visit to Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) The concept behind Farmer Producer Organizations is that farmers, who are the producers of agricultural products, can form groups and register themselves under the Indian Companies Act. To facilitate this process, the Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) was mandated by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, to support the State Governments in the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). The aim is to enhance farmers’ competitiveness and increase their advantage in emerging market opportunities. The FPO’ s major operations will include the supply of seed, fertilizer and machinery, market linkages, training and networking and financial and technical advice. Need of an FPO for Farmers Farmers in India face tremendous hardships which include the following – Small Size of landholdings. Nearly 86% of farmers are small and marginal with average land holdings in the country being less than 1.1 hectares. Good quality seeds are out of reach of small and marginal farmers mainly because of exorbitant prices of better seeds. Depletion and exhaustion of soils resulting in the low productivity demand good fertilizers, manures, biocides etc. Lack of proper irrigation facilities. Less or no accessibility to large scale mechanisation of agriculture. Challenges in marketing their products due to lack of economic strength. In the absence of sound agricultural marketing facilities, the farmers have to depend upon local traders and middlemen for selling their farm produce which is disposed of at an extremely low price. Scarcity of capital for agricultural activity forces farmers to borrow money for stimulating the production. FPOs help in the collectivization of such small, marginal and landless farmers in order to give them the collective strength to deal with such issues. Objectives The main aim of FPO is to ensure better income for the producers through an organization of their own. Small producers do not have the volume individually (both inputs and produce) to get the benefit of economies of scale.  Besides, in agricultural marketing, there is a long chain of intermediaries who very often work non-transparently leading to the situation where the producer receives only a small part of the value that the ultimate consumer pays. This will be eliminated. Through aggregation, the primary producers can avail the benefit of economies of scale. Farmers Producers will also have better bargaining power in the form of the bulk buyers of produce and bulk suppliers of inputs. Government’ s Support to Farmers Producers Organisation The government has launched a new dedicated Central Sector Scheme titled “ Formation and Promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” with a clear strategy and committed resources to form and promote 10,000 new FPOs to ensure economies of scale for farmers over the next five years. Support for each FPO is continued for 5 years from its year of inception. Initially, there will be three implementing Agencies to form and promote FPOs, namely Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC) National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). States may also if so desire, nominate their Implementing Agency in consultation with DAC&FW. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) will allocate Cluster/States to Implementing Agencies which in turn will form the Cluster-Based Business Organization in the States. Challenges of FPO Many of the problems accrue to FPOs remain untapped which includes a few mentioned below- Difficulty in securing institutional finance. The banks are usually wary of granting loans to the FPOs as they do not have assets of their own to serve as collaterals.  Consequently, the FPOs have to rely on loans from non-banking financial companies or micro-finance companies. They are forced to raise their working capital at very high-interest rates. Inability to operate in the regular agricultural markets. Farmers Producers Organisation usually faces difficulties in operating at the regulated Mandis because of the resistance offered by the licensed traders. It is because these traders have a significant hold over the markets.  Lack of legal recognition under the contract farming regulations. Even the facility of cheap bank loans with liberal interest subvention by the government that is available to individual farmers is denied to the FPOs. Moreover, many other concessions, tax exemptions, subsidies and benefits provided to cooperatives, startups and the like have not been extended to the FPOs. All these issues need to be addressed expeditiously to enable the FPOs to perform to their full potential for the benefit of the farmers. EX No: 15 Visit to Cold Storage Unit EX No: 16 Identificationand collection of data related to marketing ( secondarysource)