Constraints in Agricultural Marketing Information in Meghalaya

Agricultural marketing information is essential for enhancing agricultural growth and farm income in rural areas. An attempt has been made to identify constraints to agricultural marketing information (AMI) among the stakeholders in the study area of two regulated markets namely, Mawiong Regulated Marketin Mylliem Block of East Khasi Hills and Garobadha Regulated Market in Selsella Block of West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. It was observed that small farmers opined that they had faced difficulty in accessing and not available in time of the AMI. It was clearly seen that non-availability of required information on prices, arrivals, area and production was a constraint as expressed by medium farmers and large farmers. Traders expressed that AMI was not available in required form. Traders were also faced difficulty on non-availability of required information on price, prices prevailing other nearby markets, arrivals, area and production aspects. Emphasis should be given on delivery mechanism of information, so that market information reaches timely to the end users in the hilly regions of Meghalaya.