Research proposal

AB 2020-22

Group Members
Aarshi Raghuvanshi (20020242001)
Abhi Patel (20020242002)
Rahul Patel (20020242047)
Rani Praharsha (20020242050)
Sahili Pazare (20020242051)
Shreyanshi Tirkey (20020242057)

Abstract:
A casualty of the price crash in the agriculture commodity after poor returns on it forced many
farmers to abandon their produce owing to a bumper output in recent days. The miseries of
financially distressed farmers seem far from over even as they continue to demand waiver of
farm loans and remunerative prices for their produce through several platforms across the
country. Traders manipulating prices, uncertainty in weather, supply chain disruption, shortage
of warehouses (or due to heavy charge on cold storage) these factors force farmers to sell their
commodity at a lower price.

Literature Review
Farmers continue to demand waiver of farm loans and remunerative prices for their produce
through several platforms across the country. To get a fair price of commodities, we might
require novel strategies and some change in the policy stance.

The main challenges of ensuring fair price are:

(1) inadequate markets and collection centres
(2) lack of appropriate infrastructure and storage facilities
(3) imperfect information due to a weak price monitoring and forecasting system.
(4) uncertainty about changes in stocking limits making traders and other stakeholders hesitant
about the market
(5) significant increase in domestic production
(6) large influx of imports

(Mittal Surabhi, Ashok Gulati, Joshi P.K., Kishore Avinash and Pal Suresh. 2018.)

Broad area of study:

Why do farmers not get fair and remunerative prices?
Broad area into sub areas:
● Middlemen trading
● Uncertain weather conditions
● Supply chain Disruptions
● Market fluctuation
● Government Policies & law
● Stockholding Limits
● Quality Inputs
● Post harvest infrastructure
● Fluctuations in demand and supply
● Collective action

Sub areas selected:

Quality Inputs, Market fluctuation, Post-harvest infrastructure

Main Objective of Study

To find out the reason for getting high income to the farmers
All farmers (small, marginal and large), retailers, middlemen, will be constituted in our study.

Sub Objective:
● Solutions for loss of farmers yield
● Solution for removing the middleman

Hypothesis
The main reason why farmers do not get fair and remunerative prices involves the complex
hypothesis which involves two or more independent and dependent variables .The various
dependent variables which affects commodity prices includes uncertain market demand,
middleman, no proper supply chain ,poor quality, poor storage, seasonality of certain food
commodities, etc. while some of the independent variables include insufficient rainfall, weather
abnormalities.

Sampling Design and Size:

Sampling design: The sampling design is convenience sampling design a type of non
probability sampling technique. The research population is convenient to contact and make
reach.
Sample size: sample size estimated to be 400 farmers.

Data processing procedures: The data can be categorically and accurately collected and
analyzed in an excel sheet.
Conceptualization Study Design:
● Kind of Research Design- We are selecting a Exploratory design for formulating the
research problem. The research can be descriptive and causal both.
● Reason for selecting this design-Descriptive design is used here because, on the basis of
the available data, we are analyzing it and come to the most probable solution that
increases the income of the farmers and improves their standard of living. By collecting
data by personal survey methods, accuracy on the data will be achieved and there will be
less chances of errors.
The Conclusive design will provide more quantitative data and accurate results. This
approach will help in identifying the parameters quantitatively. The conclusive approach
will be helpful in formulating a structured solution to the problem. Collecting data with
the perspective of cause and effect model.
● Strength: By collecting data by personal survey methods, accuracy on the data will be
achieved and there will be less chances of errors. The research is effective in laying the
groundwork that will help in future studies.
● Limitations of this design:
❏ Production of the homogenous product among all farmers in the specific area.
❏ Farmers have no market power to demand price for their produce.
❏ It cannot establish a causal research relationship between variables.
● Study Population: Our study population includes all small and marginal farmers.
● Identification of respondent Yes, we will identify each respondent.

Research Instruments:
We will prepare a questionnaire and accordingly the survey is conducted by using a
door-to-door survey.

Research Questionnaire:
1. Being a farmer are you worried about the state of changes and fluctuating prices?
2. Do you get quality and certified farm inputs?
3. Proper supply chain management is the major concern for me to go to for bulk production
of produce?
4. Do you follow the same farming practices and recommendations as your neighbor
farmer does?
5. Do you have proper electricity and water resources to irrigate your farm?
6. Does your farming land come under irrigation or rainfed?
7. Do you have proper availability of labor for doing agricultural works in the field?
8. Do you have proper post-harvest storage infrastructure to store your produce in
unseasoned times?
9. Are you getting Govt. decided MSP for a selected commodity?
10. Distance between farm and mandi?
 11. Do you follow any crop rotation method of growing different crops sequentially in your
field?
12. How many crop cycles do you get from your farming land?
13. Do you get subsidies from the government on fertilizers?
14. Do you practice Collaborative farming?

Interviews will be conducted to their respective places where respondents are available. To
fetch specific information from respondents and analyses the problem and formulate a solution.
Initially we will initiate the survey by first contacting the head of the village (sarpanch), then
introducing the motto of our survey followed by taking that head as a helping hand for taking the
survey of the people of that respective village. Our sample population has limited access to the
network. Providing personal contact to the head of the village can be an approach for solving
their queries.

Proposed time frame for the project: A time frame of one year is expected to complete and
analyses the study.
Proposed Place for conducting the Study- Satara, Maharashtra