The function of a labour market is to establish the price of labour. That price should reflect the value labour has added to the production process and
the ability and willingness of workers to provide the labour.
The history of agricultural development in India shows that Indian Agriculture was unable to feed the 45 crores of its population during late 1960 necessitating huge imports of food grains. Now in the 21st Century, India is able to feed its population of more than 100 crores, besides, providing raw materials for clothing and industrial purposes after a reasonable amount of export. Thus there is a very huge increase in the production side in many agricultural commodities but there is not more positive reflection of this in the level of living of farmers.
NAIP funded Project “Establishing and Networking of Agricultural Market Intelligence Centers in India” is under operation at GBPUA&T, Pantnagar. One of the objectives of this project is to make price forecast well in advance of sowing of selected agricultural commodities and during harvesting. The research team of GBPUA&T, Pantnagar had conducted market survey of Haldwani regulated market, a major market for brinjal in the Uttarakhand and analyzed the market prices data prevailed for the last twenty three years in this market.
The international development community has recognized that agriculture is an engine of growth and poverty reduction in countries where it is the main occupation of the poor.