Co-Operative Marketing in Karnataka (An Old and Rare Book)

Co-operative marketing has been acclaimed as an important remedy for many marketing problems of small farmers with small surpluses all over the world It is much more so in a country like India with a mass rural base consisting of farmers with small holdings and small marketable surplus. It's importance has been recognised way back and many attempts were made by the Government and through voluntary efforts to build up a net work of marketing co-operatives all over the country. On the same lines efforts were made to develop marketing of Agricultural Commodities through Co-operative effort in Karnataka also. One of the ways suggested for achieving the objectives set before the marketing co-operatives at the primary level was through the machanism of linking credit with marketing. The emerging picture then would be an outcome of the contribution of many factors, about which a detailed is made in this work. An exhaustive analysis of the position that was available in Karnataka for a period exceeding 12 years and ending with 73-74 is made here. The conclusion finally arrived at is that all is not well with the working of the co operative marketing structure. Though certain suggestions are made to improve the situation, ultimately it is left to the Government as the most important factor, the enlightened co-operators and the mass of Agriculturists and others involved, to put the marketing co-operatives on the right track, so that they can become important sinews of rural upliftment and financial viability of the farmers. Perhaps more efforts are required in that area. This book is a revised version of my thesis submitted to the University of Mysore for a doctorate degree I am beholden to the University of Mysore for permitting me to bring the doctoral thesis in this form. I am highly thankful to Sri K. T Veerappa, the Director of Prasaranga but for whose interest, this work would not have come out in this form I must also acknowledge the help that I have received at the hands of many in Prasaranga specially Sri D. K. Eregowda. I must express my gratitude to Sri H. Narasanna, the Director of Printing Press. His guidance, timely advice expeditious printing I cannot forget. I must also acknowledge the help I have received at the hands of many in the University Printing Press, a score of others but for whose dedicated and conscientious work the printing would have taken much more time.