Marketing pattern and price spread of guava in Punjab

The present study examined the marketed surplus, marketing channels, market margin and price spread of guava in Punjab. Amritsar and Patiala districts with the highest concentration of area under guava were selected purposely. A sample of 60 farmers consisting of 28 and 32 farmers, respectively from the above said districts were randomly chosen. The results revealed that each sample farmer had 2.69 ha of area under guava. The production of guava was estimated to be 487.77 quintals per holding. The marketed surplus was estimated to be 98.33 per cent. It was observed that 79.95 per cent of area was leased out to the contractors, whereas, 20.05 per cent of area was retained by farmers themselves. Most of the pre-harvest contractors dispose of their produce in Delhi market being a biggest market in North India. The producer's share in the consumer's rupee was 51.44 and 51.28 per cent in Amritsar and Patiala markets, respectively when the produce was sold through pre-harvest contractors. The corresponding figures for direct sale were estimated to be 72.68 and 71.26 per cent, respectively for the month of February, 2009.