Collective Action-Leadership Nexus of Multipurpose Agro-Processing Marketing Institutions: A Cooperative Innovation

The fruits and vegetable (F&Vs) marketing societies in general and PCMS in particular have performed reasonably well in Maharashtra during the past two decades, if certain deficiencies in their operation are set aside. There could be several factors behind the success of these societies. The factors such as higher literacy and enterprising nature of farmers, flow of efficient and dedicated leadership, an environment conducive to production, infrastructure facilities, facilities extended by NABARD and other financial institutions, government support, etc., might have played a crucial role in inducing these societies to perform well in the state of Maharashtra. However, since the F&Vs societies operating in Maharashtra have also shown a falling trend in their amount of extension of loan and its recovery, and also in respect of higher amount of losses in proportion to profit, efforts should be made to rectify these deficiencies in the functioning of these societies dealing with the marketing of high value crops. Some minor remedial measures and strategies framed or initiated by these marketing societies, particularly in respect of recovery of their loan advances, will certainly further improve the efficiency and functioning of these societies in the future. Government support in this respect will have a catalytic effect in improving the overall efficacy and efficiency, as well as functioning, of various PCMS operating in Maharashtra.