ABSTRACT
Markets of papaya for domestic use, export, processing plants etc. are available in India. There are several fruit traders and consolidators who buy papaya fruits from producers and transport to the different cities for retailers. Some big fruit processors and exporters directly enter into the growers market through contract farming. Other growers also have their own market outlets. Prices in the market depend upon supply and demand situation, and vary according to fruit quality, variety, seasons, etc. However, papaya has a big export demand but only a few exporting companies have access to markets because of the stringent quality requirements and big capital outlay. Ripening, packing, transportation and selling are the main marketing functions involved in the process of papaya marketing. Fruits are packed with the help of paper in corrugated fiber board (CFB). Better packing always helps in maintaining the quality and also reducing the losses during transit on the account of spoilage. Generally, the papaya fruits are being transported by trucks. The producer sells its maximum quantity through commission agent-cum-wholesaler at the farm level. About 76% of the sample farmers sold their produce to commission agents-cum-wholesalers and remaining 24% of the farmers sold them to the distant markets (Devi and Saran 2014). The commission agent in the distant market arranged for sale in the market and charged a commission (10%) for sale of proceeds from producer and seller. Two marketing channels have been identified by Shivannavar (2005) as follows:
Channel-I: Producer _ commission agent-cum-wholesaler _ retailer _ consumer. Channel-II: Producer _ commission agent _ wholesaler _ retailer _ consumer.
