How are credit and marketing significant for the progress of agriculture?
Importance of Credit: In agriculture, there is a long gap between crop sowing and realisation of income, farmers are in strong need for credit. Farmers need money to meet initial investment on seeds, fertilisers, implements and other family expenses especially when they are seasonally unemployed. Therefore, credit is one of the factors which contribute to rural development. If institutional sources are not available, farmers will borrow from informal sources which will increase the cost of borrowing and thereby cost of production.
Importance of Marketing: Marketing is important for any production process. If goods are produced but due to lack of marketing facilities, they do not reach the consumer, agriculture produce will perish after some time. It will be a total waste of output. Therefore, we need marketing facilities in the form of regulated markets, proper transportation and communication facilities, market information, storage, insurance etc.