STUDY ON MARKETING OF FINGER MILLET IN SIMDEGA DISTRICT OF JHARKHAND

Abstract: The study examines the production constraints and marketing efficiency of finger millet in Simdega district, with a focus on identifying key challenges and evaluating different marketing channels. Primary data were collected from farmers across various farm size groups to analyze production-related issues, while marketing data were evaluated using parameters such as price spread, producer’s share in consumer rupee, and Shephard’s Index. Results indicated that low-quality seed, shortage of fertilizers, and labor scarcity were the most critical production constraints, followed by irregular irrigation supply, power shortages, and pest and disease incidence. Marketing analysis revealed that Channel I (direct producer- to-consumer) was the most efficient, with the highest market efficiency (12.5) and producer’s share (91.54%). Channel II showed moderate efficiency (7.1), while Channel III recorded the lowest efficiency (4.53) due to multiple intermediaries and higher marketing costs. The findings suggest that improving input quality, mechanization, irrigation, and direct marketing linkages can significantly enhance profitability and sustainability of finger millet cultivation.

Keywords: Finger millet, Marketing efficiency, Price spread, Producer’s share, Production constraints, Shephard’s Index, Simdega district.

Author: Raj Kumar Baniya Chhatri and Sanjay Kumar

doi: https://doie.org/10.10346/AE.2025816892

Reference: Chivenge, P., Mabhaudhi, T., Modi, A. T., & Mafongoya, P. (2015). The potential role of neglected and underutilised crop species as future crops under water scarce conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(6), 5685–5711. Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. (2023). Agricultural statistics at a glance 2023. Government of India. Devi, P. B., Vijayabharathi, R., Sathyabama, S., Malleshi, N. G., & Priyadarisini, V. B. (2014). Health benefits of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) polyphenols and dietary fiber: A review. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 51(6), 1021–1040. FAO. (2023). International Year of Millets 2023. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Gelli, A., Margolies, A., Santacroce, M., Sproule, K., & Aurino, E. (2020). Using markets to improve diets: Lessons from two interventions to promote smallholder- produced foods in markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. Food Security, 12(6), 1247–1265. Goron, T. L., & Raizada, M. N. (2015). Genetic diversity and genomic resources available for the small millet crops to accelerate a New Green Revolution. Frontiers in Plant Science, 6, 157. Kumar, A., Metwal, M., Kaur, S., Gupta, A. K., Puranik, S., Singh, S., ... & Yadav, R. (2016). Nutraceutical value of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.], and their improvement using omics approaches. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 934. Kumari, P. L., & Sumathi, S. (2002). Effect of consumption of finger millet on hyperglycemia in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) subjects. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 57(3-4), 205–213. Malleshi, N. G., & Hadimani, N. A. (1993). Nutritional and technological characteristics of small millets and preparation of value added products from them. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Small Millets, Bangalore, India, 9–15. Nirmala, M., Subba Rao, M. V. S. S. T., & Muralikrishna, G. (2000). Carbohydrate and protein digestibility of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) malt. European Food Research and Technology, 211(3), 169–176. Pingali, P., Aiyar, A., Abraham, M., & Rahman, A. (2019). Transforming food systems for a rising India. Palgrave Macmillan. Pradhan, A., Patil, P., & Sahoo, D. (2020). Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.): An ideal crop for climate-resilient agriculture and food security. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 9(2), 1634–1644. Rao, D. B., Nagasampige, M. H., & Ravikiran, M. (2017). Evaluation of antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihypertensive properties of finger millet. International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences, 6(3), 25–32. Upadhyaya, H. D., Gowda, C. L. L., Reddy, V. G., & Singh, S. (2011). Augmenting the pearl millet core collection for enhancing germplasm utilization in crop improvement. Crop Science, 51(2), 489–497. Yenagi, N., Basarkar, P. W., & Suneetha, W. J. (2010). Nutritional quality and shelf- life of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) incorporated composite biscuits. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 23(4), 579–582.

PDF