An Analysis of Marketing and Production Constraints in Papaya Cultivation in Northern Maharashtra, India

Papaya is an important commercial fruit crop in India due to its high productivity, short gestation period and nutritional value. Despite India being the largest producer of papaya, growers often face serious challenges in production and marketing, which adversely affect farm income. The present study was undertaken to analyse the marketing system of papaya and to identify major constraints faced by papaya growers in North Maharashtra, with special reference to Nandurbar district. The study was based on primary data collected from 40 papaya growers selected from Nandurbar and Shahada tahsils for the agricultural year 2023–24. The analysis revealed the existence of two major marketing channels, namely Farmer–Trader–Retailer–Consumer and Farmer–Commission Agent–Retailer–Consumer, with Channel ‘I’ being the most commonly used by growers. The study of marketing costs, margins and price spread indicated a wide gap between the price paid by consumers and the price received by producers, mainly due to high margins of intermediaries. Farmers who sold papaya through commission agents obtained relatively higher net prices per quintal by bearing certain marketing expenses themselves. The study further identified key production and marketing constraints such as lack of technical knowledge regarding nutrient and crop management, irregular electricity supply for irrigation, incidence of pests and diseases, high price fluctuations, lack of organized markets, inadequate storage and processing facilities, high cost of inputs, and limited access to timely market information. These constraints significantly affect both productivity and profitability of papaya cultivation. The study suggests the need for strengthening extension services, improving market infrastructure, and promoting efficient marketing channels to enhance farmers’ share in the consumer price.