Varietal preferences and marketing dynamics of samai (little millet) among farmers in Thiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu

AbstractThis paper presents an investigative study on the market chain and cultivation practices of small millets, specifically focusing on little millet (samai), in the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu. The research aimed to understand farmers’ varietal preferences, adoption rates of little millet and the marketing channels utilized. Data were collected from 120 farmers across four villages in the Jamunamarathur block through pre-tested interview schedule. The findings revealed that nearly half of the surveyed farmers possessed a medium level of awareness regarding millet cultivation technologies. Varietal preference analysis indicated that Chittan was the most favoured little millet variety, followed by ATL-2 and Sadai Samai, likely due to perceived advantages in local conditions and market demand. In terms of marketing, an overwhelming majority (91.67%) of farmers relied on wholesale traders, with village-level small traders playing a minimal role. The study underscored the presence of a complex and multilayered market chain, involving numerous intermediaries, from farmers and village-level traders to wholesalers and processors in distant locations like Nashik.