Bangladesh j. crop sci. 2010, 21(1): 71–78 PRICE SPREAD AND MARKETING EFFICIENCY OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) IN KISHOREGONJ DISTRICT: A MICRO-LEVEL STUDY P.K. Sarma Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES) Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh (Received on 24 December, 2010) Abstract This study analyzes the marketable surplus, price spread and marketing efficiency of sweet potato vegetables in different marketing channels in Kishorehonj district. It also tries to identify the problems in marketing and suggests various policy measures. Using multi-stage stratified random sampling techniques the data were collected from 100 farmers, classified under three size-groups and from six villages of two upazilla was Katiadi and Nikli. Besides, 55 intermediaries were also selected for the study. The outcomes of the study reveal that marketable surplus of sweet potato is observed to be 95.5% (99.49%, 99.31% and 99.15% in small, medium and large farmer). Further, three types of marketing channels in the process of sweet potato marketing have been considered to estimate the marketing performance. It can be concluded that price spread and marketing efficiency are affected by market intermediaries and perishable nature of the commodity (Chauhan at. al. 1998). In the case of sweet potato, marketing efficiency is the highest in case of Channel 1.The problems of the vegetable marketing have been discussed and appropriate suggestions are made to make the marketing system efficient. Key words: Price spread, Channel and Marketing efficiency. Introduction In Bangladesh, the small size of farms is striking feature of farming. This creates difficulties in introducing better methods of cultivation and marketing. For this, the successful vegetable growing requires technical knowledge, skill, accuracy and thoroughness in production and marketing. With the gradual displacement of subsistence farming by commercialized agriculture, marketing of farm products has assumed greater importance in recent years. For the farmer, disposal of his produce has become important as the adoption of modern practices for improving output from agriculture. So long the marketing efficiency improves; on incentives to increase the production will attract the cultivators. Only better returns, relatively stable prices and attractive terms of trade will motivate the cultivators for commercial agricultural production. Though the vegetable crops hold a great promise for fostering economic growth and improving the diet of the people, they have received limited attention in marketing research programmes in Bangladesh. In view of this, the present investigation attempts to identify the different marketing channels of sweet potato and to workout the price spread in different marketing channels. The present study has been undertaken especially; I) to identify marketing cost and price spread of sweet potato II) to analyze the efficiency of sweet potato in selected areas of Kishoregonj district.