Production and Marketing Constraints of Nagpur Mandarin Growers in Madhya Pradesh

The study was conducted in Shajapur and Chhindwara; predominantly Nagpur mandarin growing two districts of Madhya Pradesh. The total sample of 100 was derived from three each talukas of two districts using simple random and proportionate random sampling method for data collection. Of the total four categories of constraints, technical and personal factors superseded the socio-natural and financial constraints. Although Phytophthora induced diseases considered the major malady affecting Nagpur mandarin, the respondents did not feel it as a directly responsible factor in production. On the contrary, inadequate irrigation was cited to be the crucial constraint (49 %) followed by the erratic electric supply (18 %). Subsequently insect pest management received third rank as the damage caused to fruits due to insects pests like mites, thrips during initial stages of fruiting prominently surfaced to the extent of affecting marketability of the produce. As regarding marketing, lack of farmer’s co-operatives considered as the most pressing problem by 56 per cent farmers. It connotes that, realization has dawned in them about the importance of organized marketing. The other concerning factors included lack of technical expertise regarding grading and packing of fruits (49 %) and selling of produce to pre-harvest contractors in order to repay the loan of input providers.