Executive Summary of Madhya Pradesh

                    The concept of systematic planning and designing of markets is relatively a new one in the context of massive development programmes witnessed in many states.  It is now well-accepted fact that investment in development of individual markets, selected on adhoc basis, has not produced optimum returns.  The emphasis on having a total look at the development requirement of the markets in a state as a whole and then placing them in an order of priority, the most needed market getting first attention, is a need of the hour.  Financing institutions both national and international level also prefer to look at investment needs for market development within the framework of a state master plan rather then projects for individual markets selected in isolation. 

          As the markets are cardinal links they play a vital role in the agricultural economy of the country.  Bulk of the marketable surplus passes through the physical markets and present indications are that this situation will continue in the years to come.  As no market functions in isolation, isolated markets, taken up for development may not be individually important but being collectively inter-lined make a significant contribution of a given commodity or a group of commodities.   

The institute prepared the plan as a bankable document with a wholistic view of the state assessing the development requirements, phasing out of the programme, indicating order of priority for development, working out land use pattern, estimating space requirement, framing cost estimates, calculating IRR and recommending modernization proposals for markets with strengthening legal and conceptual frame work.  The plan runs into thirteen chapters with a support of numerous annexures, comprising of important information and its value addition.  

 312 daily markets of the state have been analysed and categorized as (a) markets needing full scale development and (b) markets needing partial development, based on level of present arrival and projected arrival at 2018 AD.   Markets then, have been classified in different groups.   Main markets as well as sub-yards attached have been considered for planning purpose.  Primary data for 312 markets was collected and results analyzed.   Salient features of findings are as under:- 

·        The total quantum of arrival handled by 312 markets of Madhya Pradesh during 1998-99 works out to be 24163652 MT.  Projected arrival for 2018-19 (using linear growth rate) has been computed at 65412377 MT. (An increase of little less then three times). 

·        Around 30% of markets of Madhya Pradesh (called as ‘A’ category markets) are dealing in arrivals of more than 2 crores MT annually.  These 30% markets handle around 90% of the total trade of the state.  Rest of 10% produce is traded through other markets jointly.  Although, in smaller (category D) there are 37% markets, (113 in numbers out of 312 surveyed) in the state but handle only 1.44% of the state throughput.  These small markets may not be viable in terms of collection of market fees as the reported arrival is meager but they have their own role in establishing linkages between rural and urban markets. 

·        Similarly, B and C category markets which can be termed as medium and semi-urban markets, and are 53 and 45 in numbers constituting 17% and 15% of total handle 5.8 and 2.5% of total state arrival, respectively.  This shows that larger markets handled more produce.  Though, smaller and rural markets may not contribute much in total arrival terms but each market works as a nerve center in establishing cardinal links.  

·        Total picture of bifurcated reported arrival for 1998-99 and among various identified categories of markets has also been presented.  State arrival for the year 1998-99 which works out to be 24163652 MT  Main yards of the state handle almost 63% of total arrival while 37% of state produce passes through the sub yards.  Of the total 24163652 MT, 21732852 MT (90%) of produce is traded through ‘A’ category markets including of main yards and sub yards.  But if we further analyse it and see the relationship between main yards and sub yards it is estimated that around 35.8% of total ‘A’ category market produce arrival and 31.4% of total state arrival is handled by ‘A’ category sub yards in the state.  Rest of 64.2% and 69.6% respectively is handled by ‘A’ category main yards.  This shows that major markets have definitely larger role to play as these are mostly situated around the consuming places.  But it does not confirm the hypothesis that the major produce is not handled by small markets.  In facts, most of ‘A’ category markets are transit and secondary markets where primary produce is not brought by the farmers but by second merchants and in big volumes.  Small category markets i.e. C and D collect the produce at the grassroots level and send it back to big ‘A’ category markets.  Therefore, each market is dependent on another and establish supplementary cardinal links between them.   

·        Around 28.75% of the produce arrived in total is further dispatched to the consuming or assembly markets of the same district while 37.84% is des patched to other markets of the state and outside the district.  A sizeable volume of dispatches (33.4%)is traded for outside the state markets.  This infers that the downstream service index of the market is quite high. 

·        Arrivals in the markets of Madhya Pradesh have been projected for the year 2003, 2008 and 2018 for mid evaluation of performance.  Projection beyond 2018 is not considered desirable.  Past experience shows that market needs are difficult to foresee beyond say 15-20 years as changes that are likely to occur in the marketing systems and procedures due to technological developments in the field of produce handling, preparation, handling, packaging, storage transportation etc., all influence the needs of markets.  There is then danger of part utilization of the facilities or unutilized.  Growth rates calculated for individual markets and projections made thereof are given in the report.  

·        Growth rates of arrival in case of ‘B’ category markets have been reported to be highest i.e. 1.24%.  ‘A’ category markets could attain only 1.13% of growth rate during last decade.  Similarly.  C and D category of markets have obtained 0.6 and (-)0.04% of percentage change, respectively. 

·        Total space requirement of State works out to be 96081039 sq meters.  Indore division would require highest area of 28219332 sq. mts. while Bhopal division will require 2642367 sq. mt. of  area.  Requirement of space for Gwalior division has been worked out to be 10817801 sq. mt. 

·        On an average one market of Madhya Pradesh would require 17474 sqm of space for its proper development.  Among various categories, ‘A’ category of market would require average 5812 sq m of area while, ‘C’ category of markets will need on an average of 2671 sq. mt. of space.  Total area required for the state (17474 sq. mt.) is constituted 30% by ‘A’ category markets only. 

·       State as a whole, on an average, would need 17474 sq. mt. of space for the development of 312 markets, the area is supposed to be sufficient for all the activities like marketing, allied activities and parking & circulation etc.  Utilization of space largely depends on utilization of pattern followed in a market.  A suggestive pattern of the same has been provided in the report.  ‘A’ category markets, 5812 sq mt.  of space is required for marketing activities, 581 and 3778 sq mt. for allied services and circulation & parking, respectively.  If the space is utilized as recommended above, it is expected that there would be minimum mis-utilisation of space and maximum efficiency in using the facilities created in the market.  A common feature which has been observed in most of the markets is of either congestion or the trade not being shifted.  If the pattern recommended is followed it would solve most of the problem and would bring marketing efficiency in the system. 

·       It has been observed that major modes of transport used in carrying and dispatching the produce from/to the markets are trucks, mini trucks (including other motorized vehicles) animal carts, rickshaws, bicycles and head loads.  However, their uses distinctly differ in different kinds of markets.  96% markets of the state record entry of less than 50 trucks on a normal market day.  Regarding means of transport to carry the agricultural producers-cum-sellers from nearby places themselves carry their small consignment on head and bicycles also.  In markets of category B, C and D, small trucks and other types of light commercial vehicles are used in addition to head loads and trucks.  In very large markets, though, all types of vehicles including head loads are put to service for carrying the goods but most important mode is truck.  Major means of transport are generally hired by a group of sellers jointly depending upon the volume of produce and the destination. 

·        Animal carts are important mode of transportation in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh. Out of the total responding 80 markets of ‘A’ category of main yards, there are 79 markets (98%) having entry of less than 50 animal carts a day.  No market in the state has been reported receiving/dispatching produce through more than 150 animal carts a day.  Only one market of this category record entry of animal carts more than 100. This shows that there is still acceptance of animal carts in the markets, which warrants for rural facility   up gradation, accordingly.  Therefore, animal cart parking places, animal sheds and water troughs are important facilities, which can be provided in the markets.  In the plan, this aspect has been properly taken care of.  Accordingly, parking and circulation area has been increased.

·        The identification and provision of various need based physical infrastructure in a market is a tricky issue.  For this purpose the user population needs to be calculated first.  The visitor population will include traders, producers, middlemen and above all consumers.  The other process of calculating the user population is the empirical formula arrived at by FAO experts, who recommended a factor of 3.70 persons/tonnes/day. 

·        The unit rate of each item, reflecting the current cost structure prevailing in the State has been given.  The DSR of the department of PWD and B and R of Madhya Pradesh was used to arrive at cost estimates.  Due considerations have been given for leveling of the land, site clearance, etc. 

The plan speaks of 312 development proposals spreading over the state costing of Rs.75.00 crore in total of which Rs.30.94 crore is required for full development of markets while 44.06 crore is required for partial development of markets. Districts like, Jhabuwa, Hosangabad require more funds as compared to other districts. 

§      Umaria and Dindori districts have been identified with minimum requirement of funds to the tune of Rs.0.028 crores which comes to the lowest level. 

§      Itemwise share in total estimated cost of the project in the state depicts that 60.78% of the total cost goes to building and roads while modernization would require 33% of the total cost which comes to Rs. 45.49 crores and Rs.25.83 crore, respectively.  Almost equal amount of 5% of total would be spent on essential services and contingencies of the project. 

  • Total Cost on full development and partial is estimated at Rs.30.94 and 44.06 crore, respectively.  Within the market yard almost 34% of the expenditure (Rs.25.71 crore) is required to be spent on ‘A’ category of markets wherein projected arrival for 2020 has been estimated more than 1.00 lakh MT.  In ‘D’ category market yards the expenditure would go to the extent of 39.41% only while ‘B’ category market yards would require 21.45% followed by ‘C’ category 13.43%, respectively of the total of market yards only.  Of the total state investment proposed (Rs.75 crore).

·       In the second phase 150 markets has been identified which is 48.07% of total 312 markets. The budget provision for second phase is Rs. 35.70 crore which comes 47.60% of total state budget of 75.00 crores. In phase II covers 41 markets of category A, 37 of Category B, 30 of category C and 42 of category D. Budget provision of these category are 9.75 crores, 11.42 crores, 2.95 crores and 11.56 crores respectively. 

·        Third phase cover 112 balance markets. In the third phase maximum market are in category D (68.75%). The total budget provision in phase III is Rs. 9.78 crore.  Out of 9.78 crore 4.25 crore for category D which is 43.45% of total budget in   phase III.