Price Spread and Intermediary Margins in Niger (Guizotia abyssinica) Marketing Channels of Northern Hill Agro-Climatic Zone of Chhattisgarh

A comprehensive study analysed the price spread and market margins of niger crops in the Northern Hills of Chhattisgarh, utilizing data from farmers across three districts. The findings revealed that large farms yield a marketable surplus of 87.74%, followed closely by medium farms at 86.95%, small farms at 85.60%, and marginal farms at 84.61%. It shows increased trends from marginal to large farms because marginal to large farmer is increasing as the size of holding and production. The price spreads varied significantly across different marketing channels, with Channel-I having the highest spread at Rs. 3530, followed by Channel-II at Rs. 3053, and Channel-III at Rs. 2026. Notably, the producer's share of the consumer rupee in Channel-III was the highest at 79.76%, compared to Channel-II at 71.94% and Channel-I at 68.08%, indicating that a fewer number of intermediaries in Channel-III benefitted the producers more. The study also emphasized that processors maintain high marketing margins, which urges farmers to enhance the value of their products through cooperatives, potentially capturing a larger share of consumer expenditures. Additionally, establishing processing plants close to niger cultivation areas could significantly lower transportation costs, further benefiting farmers and the overall marketing efficiency of niger crops.