Socio-economic pattern of fodder markets in urban and peri-urban areas

Fodder marketing is emerging as an important entrepreneurial activity in urban and peri-urban areas in response to increasing urbanization stretching from urban areas to surrounding villages. Unorganized fodder markets are operating in several places in the country to cater the needs of these farmers. A study was conducted in May and June 2015 to assess the structure and functioning of fodder markets and their constraints in Karnal and Hisar cities in Haryana. Significant number of entrepreneurs (40%) possessed experience in fodder business upto 5 years which indicated that many entrepreneurs were recently attracted in this business in Karnal while respondents had longer experience in Hisar. The entrepreneurs predominantly located their business unit in Karnal (96.67%) and in Hisar (100%) by considering the availability of large number of local customers. The marketing of the fodder in the auction centre of Karnal is done by open auction method. However, entrepreneurs directly purchased the fodder from farmers in Hisar by arranging vehicles on their own. Shortage of fodder supply during summer in market was reported to be the major constraint of respondents in Karnal (70%) and Hisar (84.62%). The study warrants focusing on educated unemployed youth in the fodder marketing entrepreneurship through special incentives and schemes to facilitate the sustainable growth of dairy farming in urban areas.