International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
PJ Kshirsagar, AS Akhare and SR Torane

abstract
Maharashtra state is one of the leading cashew growing states in India. The survey was conducted in South Konkan region purposively during 2019 and 2020. A sample of 170 cashew nut growers, 10 wholesalers, 10 dealers, 34 village traders and 34 itinerant merchants was selected randomly. Cashew nut growers from the South Konkan region were disposing off their produce through five different marketing channels i.e. channel I (Grower → Village merchant → Wholesaler → processor), channel II (Grower → Itinerant Merchant → Factory agent → processor), channel III (Grower → Village merchant → processor), channel IV (Grower → Wholesaler → processor) and channel V (Grower → processor). Majority of the farmers sold the raw cashew nuts through village traders in the nearby markets. In South Konkan region per quintal cost of marketing was incurred highest when grower sold his produce directly to the processor. Among the various marketing intermediaries the village merchant takes maximum risk associated with uncertainty in marketing of raw cashew nuts for loss due to price crash during peak harvesting season. In the various items of costs of raw cashew nut marketing, among various market intermediaries, the transportation cost is the major cost item contributing 30 to 33 percent of total cost in South Konkan region. The price spread in different channels of marketing in South Konkan region revealed that the producer share in consumer rupees was highest in (99.69%) channel V followed by channel IV (98.32%), channel I & III (91.86%), and lowest being in channel (84.60%). This was due to highest market margin in channel II accounted to 14.51 percent.