GS3 · 15 marks · 250 words

"Farming becomes remunerative if the produce reaches our plates in time". In this context, highlight the upstream and downstream issues faced by the agriculture marketing and transport sector in India. What initiatives can be undertaken to improve the overall efficiency of the sector?

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Agricultural MarketingFood ProcessingInfrastructure

Syllabus: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.

How toppers approached it

From all 3 answers · about 240 words · 33% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A figure2 of 3
  • No separate opening1 of 3

Body

  • Points2 of 3
  • Points and prose1 of 3

Close

  • A summary2 of 3
  • No separate close1 of 3

The toppers’ answers

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 234 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

Dalwai Committee on DFI highlighted the plight of poor remuneration in Agri. As per SAS (Situational Assessment Survey); avg. household in farm has debt of ₹ 74,000 today.

Body · points and prose

Issues @ marketing

  1. APMC level issues a) Poor Drying & Irradation b) Poor Packaging c) monopoly of middlemen (Arhatiyas) & collusion.

  2. Lack of Infrastructure Physical & Digital (storage & transport)

(3) Poor awareness about price movements and lack of Agri-Extension services

Issues @ Transport

(I) Roads : Lack of all season metalled roads

(II) Poor mix Roads have exorbitant share : non-optimal (Railways are most efficient)

(III) High cost to hire tractors by small farmers.

Govt Initiatives

MarketingTransport
(1) e-NAM
Digital intervention(1) Krishi Rail
Rail Infra with spl. focus on NER
(2) Organic promotion
NPOP/APEDA certificate institution(2) Krishi Udan
For HVC, Horticult
(3) AIDF (Agri. Infra Devt Fund)

Initiatives Required

  1. Promoting FPOs Budget 23-24: Promoting 10,000 FPOs → collectivization → Better bargaining

  2. Public Invst @ Agri Infra

Diagram
[Storage] -> cold storage mission [Transport] -> PM-Gram sadak yojana

  1. Promoting R&D, Startups ↳ helps farmers increase longevity ↳ Technology: Ex: Irradiation (to improve shelf life)

  2. Promoting Food Processing

Close · a summary

to add value & better returns.

Dalwai committee to double Farm Income stressed heavily upon improving Agri. Transport & marketing to improve the farming remuneration overall.

More on Agricultural Marketing

Storage, transport and sale of produce: APMC and mandis, eNAM, contract farming, post-harvest loss, price realisation.

All GS3 questions on Agricultural Marketing