Q.What is meant by agricultural marketing? State any two defects of agricultural marketing in India.

This question has two parts — a definition, followed by naming (not fully explaining) two defects.

Meaning: Agricultural marketing refers to all the activities involved in moving agricultural produce from the point of production (the farm) to the point of final consumption, including assembling scattered produce, grading, storage, transport, financing and sale.

Any two defects (of several possible):

1. Too many intermediaries — produce often passes through several traders/agents before reaching the consumer, each taking a margin, so the price the farmer actually realises is only a fraction of the final consumer price.
2. Inadequate storage and cold-chain capacity — forces many farmers, especially small ones without holding capacity, into distress sales immediately after harvest when prices are lowest, and causes real wastage of perishable produce. …

The question asks for the meaning AND two defects — an answer that gives only the definition, or only lists defects without firs …