SHARMA, RAVINDERSHAILJA, KUMARI2016-09-062016-09-062016http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/75603ABSTRACT In the present study entitled “Price Behaviour and farmer’s assessment in functioning of regulated markets of APMC Kullu and Lahaul-spiti”sixty farmers were selected. Besides this, five markets out of seven markets of APMC KullunadLahaul-spiti were also selected for the study. Results revealed that nearly 85.16 per cent family members are literates with literacy indices of 2.65 indicating low quality of education. The total area under horticulture was more than 50 per cent of the land holding indicating the dominance of horticulture in the study area. Cropping intensity was 130 per cent, which indicates that there is a scope to increase in farm efficiency.The results revealed that 30 per cent of the farmers were selling their produce in Bhuntar market followed by Patlikuhal and Bandrol markets and proportion of farmers selling their produce outside the state increased with the farm size thus highlighting the fact that local markets are mainly used by marginal and small farmers. Bhuntar market was found most developed on the basis of infrastructure development index (0.71) whereas Bandrol (0.15) market was least developed because this market is operational only during the peak season and there is no permanent sheds or shops for marketing of produce. Correlation coefficient was found significant (0.88) only in case of Apple in Kullu market whereas it was negative and non- significant in both Bhuntar and Bandrolmarket.The prices of vegetable crops were lower compared to variation in their arrivals in all the selected markets. Trends in arrival and prices of vegetable crops indicated that the prices of all the vegetable crops increased during 2011-2015. The trend analysis revealed that prices of the vegetable crops are increasing over the year however arrival did not show any definite pattern.Linear growth rate analysis showed that prices of apple, pear and plum decreased during 2011-2015 in Bhuntar marketi.e -0.36, -0.61, -0.24 respectively. However pear and plum prices decreased in Kullu market also. Almost similar pattern was observed in the arrival of these fruit crops in the other selected markets. Seasonality in arrival was higher compared to seasonality in prices because of local nature of arrival where as demand for fruit and vegetable is more which resulted in lower seasonality in prices. 100 per cent of the farmers were selling their produce through regulated markets and the study showed that 56.67 per cent of the famers were well aware of these regulated markets. The most important motivating factor for preferring the regulated markets by the farmers was market information as 46.67 per cent farmer preferred regulated markets because of this factor alone. It was found that regarding working of regulated markets, farmers were highly satisfied with Physical functions related with producer’s welfare like provision of drinking water and toilets, farmer’s rest sheds, canteen and parking facility. Lack of stable prices, delay in payments and lack of processing facility were found to be most serious constraints faced by farmers while marketing their produce in regulated markets. The Chi square showed that most of the farmers suggested that there should be provision of trade related infrastructure in the regulated markets to improve the marketing efficiency.en<h1>You have exceeded your usage quota. Please contact gshukla [at] iitk.ac.in </h1>Thesis