Agricultural Market Intelligence is an important and useful instrument, and it should be strengthened and extended to all the States. The MIUs apparently have not been able to function in the manner envisaged. Their operations and staff requirements should be re-evaluated and appropriate measures taken to streamline the units. Full advantage of their services should be availed of to provide advance estimates of crop production, to collect auxiliary information required for framing “small area” estimates of crop production and several other studies. The products may be sold directly in the market or it may be stored locally for the time being. Moreover, it may be sold as it is gathered from the field or it may be cleaned, graded and processed by the farmer or the merchant of the village. Sometime processing is done because consumers want it, or sometimes to conserve the quality of that product. The task of distribution system is to match the supply with the existing demand by whole selling and retailing in various points of different markets like primary, secondary or terminal markets. Agriculture is one of the main components of the sustainability of human civilization. With today’s advanced technology, the production of agriculture is slowly shifting its focus to creating goods that are safe for society and the environment. Those interested in using science to positively impact society and the environment may consider studying agricultural production. Agricultural production programs examine agronomy (the study of plant genetics) and plant breeding, as well as the way in which pesticides and fertilizers negatively affect the ecosystem. This book covers all the aspects of agriculture. It is hoped, the book will be found to be of immense value to the students of higher education, researchers and teachers.
