Efficiency of Male Goat Markets in the Central Alluvial Plains of West Bengal

The marketing of goats has been studied in the four animal markets of Nadia and Hooghly districts of Central Alluvial Plains of West Bengal. Data have been collected from 30 sellers and 30 buyers, selected randomly from each market during 2001-02. In all, 228 Black Bengal and 76 Jamunapari goats have been found transacted among the selected sellers and buyers during the period. Five marketing channels have been found in male goat marketing in the study area. The major marketing cost components have been found as assembling -maintenance, animal preparation, labour and transportation for sellers and market fee, labour and levy for buyers. No broker is involved in goat marketing in the study area. The gross market margin has been found lowest in the Farmer – Farmer channel. Therefore, this channel has turned out to be most efficient. It has also been found that as the number of intermediaries between producer and ultimate buyer increases, the producer’s share goes on decreasing. The study has suggested streamlining of the margins of traders and market fee, price fixation based on well-defined parameters and conservation of the Black Bengal goat germplasm in the state