Marketing strategy varies for each agricultural product

Marketing every agricultural crop (not just rubber) requires a system that would respond to changes in the market and this requires to be looked at the State- and national-level, G.V. Joshi, member, State Planning Board, told The Hindu.

Rubber cultivation (which is picking in Dakshina Kannada) requires an appropriate institutional arrangement. It must be set up now as there had been a sudden switch to growing rubber which in itself was a challenge, he said.

Other than rubber, the district was known for cultivation and trade in areca, coconut, paddy, and spices such as pepper. Today, the marketing of these products was a study in contrasts. While areca growers were dealing with a demand slump, coconut was marketed directly to sellers. Paddy was no longer cultivated on a commercial scale in Mangalore and vegetables were cultivated only for self-consumption.