IOSR-JEF   Volume-4 ~ Issue-2

Abstract: This paper explains about the Agricultural Marketing and Sustainable Development in Indian economy. This paper introduces the concepts and aims of sustainable agriculture in India. Sustainable agricultural development comprises sustainability of agricultural production and agricultural marketing, sustainability of the rural economy, ecological and environmental sustainability within agricultural systems and sustainability of rural society. India can safely be characterized as an agricultural country despite the recent spurt in manufacturing and services and the declining share of agriculture in the national income, since majority of its workforce (650%) is still engaged in agriculture and allied activities. It has been the noblest profession in India since the time immemorial and has been carried out on sustainable basis. It is only relatively recent phenomenon that large-scale forest areas, grazing lands and waste lands have been converted into croplands to support the rising population, which has caused ecological imbalance and atmospheric pollution. With no further scope for expansion of agricultural land efforts have been made to enhance the production of food grains using high-yielding variety of seeds, fertilizers and irrigation along with advanced farm equipments Agriculture is the largest source of employment in India, and food accounts for about half of consumer expenditures. Moving agricultural products from the farm to consumers more efficiently could result in large gains to producers. consumers, and India 's overall economy. More efficient agricultural marketing generates economy wide gains in output and wages, raises agricultural producer prices, reduces consumer food prices, and increases private consumption, particularly by low-income households. Sustainable agriculture, although a difficult term to define operationally, includes the practice of low input agricultural production technologies. An important condition to adopt these technologies is the access to markets for low input agricultural products. Ability to market these products at profitable prices would provide incentives for farmers to adopt the necessary methods. Contract farming is considered to be an effective means to introduce new production technologies to the farmers by providing assurance on prices and markets for agricultural products. Public extension agencies in developing countries may therefore be concerned to direct their efforts to introduce contract farming models to rural areas, and to encourage private firms to disseminate information on the appropriate production methods. The paper also emphasizes the importance and objectives of agricultural marketing. The conclusion is that to accelerate economic development of the economy, it is necessary to promote sustainability of agricultural marketing.

Abstract: Commodity Futures and Spot Exchanges are a part of the larger securities market worldwide. In India, the market is in the developmental stage. However, since the opening up of the market in March 1995, growth has been exponential. The Forward Markets Commission has been regulating the market. Three National Exchanges and 21 other exchanges are functioning in the country. The National Exchanges with online transparent trading and settlement systems account for 97.2% of trading. There are over 20000 terminals all over the country enabling easier access to the stake holders. The turnover in the market has risen from Rs. 6530.74 lakh crores in 2002-03, to Rs. 3316206.92 lakh crores in 2008-09, representing an annualized growth of 830%. This paper takes a peek into the working of the commodities futures market in general and agricultural commodities market in particular. It tries to analyze the purpose, role and impact of agricultural commodity futures on the price of these commodities, particularly in the light of the general perception that the futures market is one of the causes of price rise. The study compares the impact of ban in futures trading on certain agricultural commodities on prices. The study reveals that the impact, if at all, is only marginal. The reasons for the rise in prices have been found to be factors other than futures trading. The study concludes with a suggestion to educate the stake holders to enable healthy growth of the futures market.

Abstract: Rural marketing facilitate flow of goods and service from rural producers to urban consumers at possible time with reasonable prices, and agriculture inputs/ consumer goods from urban to rural. Marketing as a function has started much earlier when civilization started but not recognized as marketing. All economy goods are marketed in terms of goods and services (Barter system). Now money is being practiced as a good exchanging medium. The market may be a street, or a small town! metropolitan city, Developments in infrastructure, transport, and communication facilities has increased the scope of the rural market