Effectiveness of Marketing Information Systems (MIS) on vegetable sub-sector in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Vegetables are the second most important agriculture sub-sector after rice in Sri Lanka is. Marketing of vegetables is more complex because of the special characteristics like highly perishable nature, seasonality, bulkiness etc. In this situation, it is necessary to implement efficient marketing system for vegetables because producers and consumers are exploited by the intermediaries. Therefore, the line agencies related to the agricultural marketing have introduced MIS by using conventional and Information and Communication Technologies to make the agricultural marketing system as more vibrant and competitive. On this background, this study mainly attempted to analysis effectiveness of Marketing Information System (MIS) on vegetable sub-sector in Sri Lanka. Effectiveness of the MIS was measured by analyzing the price differences of the provinces of Sri Lanka before and after implementation of MIS in Sri Lanka. Secondary data was mainly used for this study. Nominal market price of bean, carrot, cabbage, pumpkin and brinjals were collected. Price fluctuation of selected vegetables before (1999/2000) and after (2007/2008) implementation of MIS was measured by developing Price Index (PI).

Price of the selected vegetables during the period 1999/2000 has highly varied from province to province as compared to the period 2007/2008. The price fluctuation of bean, carrot, cabbage and pumpkin from place to place were relatively low at the second occasion 2007/2008 as compared to 1999/2000. It clearly indicates that MIS has affected while determining the vegetable prices at various places in the country. However, the price .behaviour of brinjals has deviated from the normal results. It means that MIS has not positively affected on determination the brinjals prices.

However, It can be concluded that MIS has affected positively to determine the vegetable prices in the country and lead to reduce the price variation among the different places of the country. MIS will help safeguard both farmer and consumer while selling and buying vegetables.