Market Arrivals And Price Behaviour Of Potato: A Study Of Selected Markets Of Uttar Pradesh

With a share of 28.70 percent in the total area in the country, Uttar Pradesh is one the largest producer of potatoes in the country. Potato is a semi-perishable crop, and every year the fluctuations can be seen in the arrivals and prices of the crop. The present study was conducted in the selected five markets of Uttar Pradesh to analyse the behaviour of arrivals and prices, including the Agra market, as Agra is the largest potato-producing district. The annual growth rate in the area and production of the potato was found to be positive and significant statistically. The variability in the monthly arrivals and potato prices was highest in Lucknow and Bareilly markets. The effect of the monthly arrivals on prices was negative and significant statistically. The seasonal index of the arrivals showed that arrivals were maximum from December to March, and prices were lower during these months. The correlation among all market prices was statistically significant and positive, depicting moderate to high market integration. Thus, the study suggested that establishing a scientific storage structure, market information dissemination, and proper check on market arrivals and prices would reduce their variability.