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Abstract
A study has been conducted on the production, marketed surplus, disposal
channels, margins and price-spread for maize cultivation in the Hamirpur
district of Himachal Pradesh. A multi-stage stratified sampling technique
has been used to select the sample of blocks (2), villages (10) and maize
growers (120) for the year 2001-02. The study on factors affecting marketed
surplus, and cost & margins in the marketing of maize has revealed that
farm-level marketable surplus is comprised of 53.21 per cent of the total
production. The practices of storing maize for sometime and selling at a
later date for higher price have led to storage losses to the extent of 0.16
quintal (2.80% of marketable surplus). Much of the marketable surplus of
maize (66.92%) was disposed of by a majority of farmers (74.56%) during
the first quarter (October- December). Producer → Local trader → WS/
CA → Processor/ Consumer has been found as the main channel in the
marketing of maize followed by about 71.93 per cent farmers, accounting
for about 70 per cent of the produce. The producer’s share in consumer’s
rupee has been estimated at 78.01 per cent in this channel.