Barman, R.NChanu, Elangbam Yaiphaleima2022-02-262022-02-262017-07https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810182917The present study was carried out in Imphal east and Thoubal district of Manipur to study the present status, marketing channels, marketing costs, marketing margins, problems and prospects of production and marketing of black scented rice in the state. A multistage purposive and random sampling method was used for the study in order to select 100 respondents. Both the primary and secondary data were collected. The primary data were collected from the respondent farmers using pre tested scheduled through personal interview method. From the analysis it was observed that out of total rice area 237150 ha, black scented rice shared 0.06 per cent (150 ha).Total production of rice was observed 508500 MT of which black scented rice shared 0.07 per cent (360 MT). But black scented rice captures higher returns as its priced is three times higher (Rs.120000 – Rs.150000 per MT) over normal rice (Rs.28000-Rs.31000 per MT) in the domestic as well as international markets. Factors influencing the production of black scented rice were estimated using Cobb-Douglass production function. It was analyzed that the regression coefficients for seed (0.305) and hired machinery (0.556) was found to be positively significant. Three different marketing channels were identified in the study area. It showed that producer’s share in consumer’s rupee was highest in channel-III (97.29%) as no intermediaries were involved in this channel followed by channel-II (49.04) and channel-I (48.12). Similarly, for normal rice the producer’s share in consumer’s rupee was highest in channel-III (90.71) followed by channel-II (76.71) and channel-I (73.57). The study revealed that there is scope for increasing producer’s price by reducing the middlemen margin for black scented rice. The study identified a number of important problems influencing production and marketing of black scented rice in Manipur. The major production problems were lack of irrigation, soil testing facilities, inadequate credit facilities, lack of technical information, lack of high yielding varieties of black scented rice etc. Major marketing problems were lack of producers’ organisations, organic certification, lack of storage facilities, dependence on market middlemen, lack of government procurement policy and other related infrastructure for better marketing of the produce as such it is suggested and recommended to formulate a sound agriculture policy which can address to make available production technologies along with quality of seeds, other inputs and also creating sound marketing infrastructure so that the farmers/producers and consumers at the same time will able to reap the fruits of policies undertaken in the region in near future. This type of policy will also encourage taking up more production programme and which will in turn give a boost to the agrarian economy of the state.EnglishThesis