Grading 6d1kp

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In marketing functions, grading and standardization are of great help in pricing and sales activities.

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This activity avoids confusion and doubts on quality or the mix-up of different quality varieties.

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Thus by making grades and standards for various products, fairness in rural marketing is ensured.

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Ôommon standards enable fair comparison of prices, hence grading units have been set up at each level of cooperative marketing.

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In rural marketing, two types of standardization are followed:

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(i) Standardization of weights and measures and

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(ii) Standardization of quality.

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Standardization is the determination of basic limits on grades or the establishment of model processes and methods of producing, handling and selling goods and services.

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For weights and measures, India has adopted the MKS (Meter, Kilogram, Seconds) system and hence the standards like kilogram, liters will be accepted as practical standards.

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^ther practice is that for certain products, different packing standards are followed.

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In case of cereals and pulses, bags of 100 kg, 50 kg and 25 kg are standard packing.

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However, for edible oils, 16 kg tin is allowed.

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^nly recently, plastic cans and pouches of 10 kg, 5 kg, 2 kg, 1 kg have come up.

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Similarly for cotton bale, it is 170 kgs and mango baskets contain fruits in dozens.

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Most of these are traditionally followed practices.

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Standardization of quality is related to attributes like size, color, appearance, texture, moisture content, sweetness etc.

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Some are measurable and some are assessed by experience and expertise.

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Some common local language words are used for gradation.

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For example, coconuts are large size, medium size and small size.

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This category is by approximation.

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Another categorization is local or 'Tiptur' variety and Ôeylon variety.

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This is judged by appearance and particular outside colors.

u | |rading:

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|rading is categorizing the produce into different lots, each containing similar characteristics.

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The characteristics could be one or more of the following type:

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Size - Big, medium, small, long, short, round, oblong etc.

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Flavour - which in turn speaks of taste or class

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Ripeness (|rown or seasoned) - raw, semi-ripe, ripe in case of fruits, oilseeds, pulses and cereals

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Length of staple - in case of cotton and jute.

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Location oriented ± like @

|oa Alfanso mango,

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Nagpur orange

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Nasik grapes

having specific tastes, shape, color etc..

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It is a means to describe the quality of produce for sale / purchase activity

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It protects consumers from unfair trade practices by traders or farmers.

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It also enables farmers to get price as per quality and grade

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It works as a basis for fixing price and price as per quality.

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It makes price more reasonable to grades and there will be difference in price as per quality

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Simplification of storage and marketing of different grades

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Loans can be given based on stored goods as per the grade

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åasier to understand quality available for each grade in case of bulk sale.

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^nce grading is done and exhibited in of size, colour and freshness, no more explanation is required as visual observation of the consumer is adequate.

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|radation and keeping products as per grades gives good publicity and client develops automatically

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·rice comparison by consumers is easy due to grade identity. The buyer expects least or no risk in the purchases.

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|rading helps to create perfect competition in the market as it will set a good standard of equivalent grades and materials competition.

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^verall marketing cost can be reduced as repeat evaluation, separation and doubts in the mind of consumer are avoided

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Inspection is required to decide on control measures to be taken against insects, infestation and spoilage.

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Inspection is required to take a decision if the produce is fit for human consumption, or it has been deteriorated and can not be consumed.

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Inspection is required to know the conditions of the whole lot based on evaluation of the sample lot.

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Inspection is required to know the conditions of the whole lot based on evaluation of the sample lot.

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Inspection is required for fixing price based on how old it is and changes in colour, strength, resale value etc.

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If material is infested, it is necessary to know if it is very heavy, moderate, negligible or none.

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üuantity inspection is also required to know loss due to rodents, pilferage.

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Inspection by third party is more helpful to get both unbiased and expert comments. This certainly helps to take appropriate steps in quality control.

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·eriodic inspection is the best way of quality control. It enables to take corrective actions before it is too late.

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Inspection can also be done when kept at middlemen's (traders) shops by taking the goods to the nearest test laboratory and

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Inspection is randomly arranged by government officers and inspectors to ensure consumer safety.

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For analysis to find various discrepancies and to understand the grade, the samples need to be taken.

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Various factors for analysis are as follows:

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Any organic or inorganic material other than grain is in this category.

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åxamples are straw, chaff, weed seeds, dust and earth sand lumps.

ü · *amaged produce :

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Internal damage and discolouration is one of the defects in grains.

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Some will be partly damaged and discoloured. This affects the quality of the food grains.

Immature grains:

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|rains that are not properly developed, shrunk in shape and which are still green are to be treated as immature.

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The crop is cut ahead of its due time.

ü · ixture:

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*ifferent grades of grains are mixed in the lot.

^ther grains:

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Mix up of some other food grains or oilseeds is to be curtailed.

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For many of the agricultural produce, certain grades and standards are fixed by Agricultural Marketing Advisor, |overnment of India.

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This is done for having and maintaining high standard and clarity of qualities in case of exports of agro-produce.

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Farmers are not free to use their own standards and classifications in case of exports.

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The |overnment of India has made standards based on size, quality and other characteristics which are fixed standards and hence mandatory for exporters.

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This forms a category of variable grading.

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Though standards are followed, the crop quality and size may vary year after year and hence the standards get changed after some time.

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Farmers can have their own method of standards.

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An independent body set up by state government authorities, co-operatives, farmers associations or private agencies can take up grading activities.

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They should have a laboratory and qualified agricultural and chemistry scientists to take up the responsibility as approved agents for evaluation and grading.

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The facilities are essential for rural produce like milk, curds, ghee, edible oils, refined oil, different types of jams and juices.

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These centralized grading institutions are subject to inspection and audit by the officials of *MI (*irectorate of Marketing and Inspection).

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Their periodic inspection and possibility of license cancellation for deviations keeps the laboratory work in order.

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*MI authorizes state marketing federations to take care of grading work for certain common daily usable and perishable commodities.

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This is also done in case of commodities where visual observation itself will give adequate idea about the quality and grade standard.

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The items normally covered are vegetables, fruits, poultry, meat, eggs, pulses and cereals.

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Both centralized and decentralized grading methods are done to take care of consumer interest and convenience of operations.

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Ôriteria refers to the basis on which grades and standards are determined.

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The basis factors are as under :

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Ôonsumer oriented gradation is very important. Ultimately most of the farm produce is for human consumption and maximum priority therefore is of consumer choice.

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The characteristics of consumer preference like white, jowar, reddish jowar, big size, small size are there and that way jowar is categorized.

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Next the place of produce is also uttered to highlight quality. For example Bijapur Jowar, Vijayawada Rice, Assam Tea etc.

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The grade standards should have common terminology and understood in the same manner at the all India level.

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|rade standards set must be easy to understand, explain and measure wherever they are measurable.

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The standards should have consistency so that frequent changes are not required

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åvaluation, verification and certification should not be a difficult process and procedure. Farmers cannot afford procedure-oriented complicated gradations

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Testing is a part of inspection to determine whether a product conforms to the set standards or specifications.

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Samples are drawn from farmers, market and stores and then taken for testing.

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The |overnment made Agmark laboratories at various cities and important locations specific for certain agro produce.

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Inspection is carried out by government office inspection staffs and not anybody else

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This means personnel authorized to approve Agmark quality only will be entrusted this task.

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The central laboratory is it's Headquarters in Nagpur.

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This is the Apex body of these laboratories.

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It is expected that producers themselves take care of quality aspects and do proper gradation for customer satisfaction.

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However, most of the farmers and traders do not do it unless it is forced upon them.

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It is therefore, very essential to periodically do the testing, inspection and checks on traders, farmers and wholesalers.

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This will curb unfair practices and infuse confidence in the consumers.

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' Agmark' is the short form of Agricultural Marketing and is the standard quality certification under the ÔA· (Ôentral Agricultural ·roduce) Act 1937, meant for grading and marking of agricultural produce.

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The standards are fixed by Agricultural Marketing Advisor, |overnment of India.

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A|MARK certification license is given to manufacturers and traders after evaluation.

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The licensee is expected to follow the procedures and standards laid down for different commodities.

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*ifferent coloured 'A|MARK' certificates are given for different grades.

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There is a method for fixing the Agmark label.

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The label is put such that while opening the bottle or container, the label will be seen and had to be taken out before opening the bottle or container.

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The label bears the date of packaging and date of expiry as per mandatory norms.

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If an A|MARK labeled product is found defective, the shopkeeper will give free replacement.

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This is one of the conditions prior to issue of labels to the manufacturer.

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If defects repeat for a particular product, the license to label that product will be cancelled.

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So far the A|MARK brand has got good reputation and known is for free from adulteration of goods.

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There are about 14000 license holders manufacturing and marketing using the 'A|MARK' certification.

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|overnment of India has arranged A|MARK grades for almost all the agro-products and the list is very long.

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It covers all the food grains, fruits, spices, tobacco, oils, oilseeds etc.

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153 commodities and their varieties are given specifications for A|MARK certification.

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These specifications are subject to revision and changes based on improved varieties and based on comments of exports, consumers and market agencies.

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An example of Agmark specifications for ·ulses is shown in the next 2 slides.

6 J 0 | Agmark grade designations and definition of quality of pulses (whole) redgram (Tur/Arhar), |reengram (Moong) blackgram (Urad), Lentil (Masoor), ·eas (Matar) and Matki or Moth

6 J 0 | Agmark grade designations and definition of quality of pulses (whole) redgram (Tur/Arhar), |reengram (Moong) blackgram (Urad), Lentil (Masoor), ·eas (Matar) and Matki or Moth

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·rocessing of agricultural products is done to suit the tastes and preferences of the ultimate consumer.

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Many of the agro-products are processed in different ways to get different forms to make them value added products.

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Some of the examples of processing are as follows: @

(i) Sugarcane >> Juice extractions >> Jaggery, Sugar.

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(ii) Ôoco Nuts >> Ôoconut oil (for cooking and as hair oil) Also, coconut is used in food items and 'chutneys'.

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(iii) |roundnut whole >> Removal of cover >> |roundnut >> |roundnut oil. |roundnut is used in various forms as a food item.

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(iv) Fruits >> Fruit juices, jams.

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(v) Tomato >> Tomato ketchup, sauce

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(vi) Mango >> Mango pulp, mango juice, mango pickles.

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More examples of agro-processed products are ghee, butter, wheat flour, edible oils, maida, soji (coarse flour), wool, cloth (from cotton), sandalwood oil, rice (from paddy) etc.

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Several other examples are there for processing of vegetable and animal product.

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These are consumed locally and exported.

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When it comes to exports, the standard is essential for evaluation

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Standards for processed products are formulated by a Ôommittee, which consists of experts and experienced people in the field, officials of *MI, representatives of research institutes, Agricultural University and even representatives of consumer associations.

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The have some other country standards for reference, get ideas from various of the Ôommittee and then formulate Indian standards.

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Based on the Ôommittee's approval, the standards are formed, printed and circulated to all concerned departments and institutions.

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^nce a year, the standards are reviewed by the Ôommittee to make changes if any, based on necessity and suggestions from various sources.

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All products are categorized by specific grades and A|MARK certificates will be given only after the minimum required specifications are met.

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In case of exports, the 'A|MARK' grade is mandatory.

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Some locations are specific for certain produce for testing, gradations and 'A|MARK' certifications.

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For example Ludhiana and Ôhandigrah are known for wheat and sunflower seeds, Vijayawada, |untur are known for Rice, Hubli, Raichur for cotton, Bijapur for jowar, Nasik for grapes, Nagpur for oranges, Ahmednagar for sugarcane.

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Ôonsidering the development of these areas, the training centers to train staff for grading are opened as under. @

Nagpur - |rading Supervisor's Training Ôentre

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Lucknow, Ôhandigarh, Ôhennai, Hubli and Surat - Training Ôentre for staff involved in grading activities.

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The gradation matter is not much clear or understood by majority of the consumers.

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Moreover most of the produce gets graded due to export compulsions or for getting higher price in the market.

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However, the value of graded products is increasing in the recent past as shown in the next slide.

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The gradation subject is debatable from the point of view of it's popularity, accuracies and reliability.



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(Source: *MI, Ministry of Agriculture, |overnment of India)

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*uring British rule in 1937, The Agricultural ·roduce Act was formulated, covering grading and processing aspects.

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The Act has been amended several times as per changing trends in agro-related products and more stringent quality standards required for exports.

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The AMA (Agriculture Marketing Advisor to the |overnment of India) is authorized to monitor the provisions of this Act.

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In the beginning stages, the A|MARK was not very popular but now it has 153 commodities listed with different specific grades.

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The AMA can make suitable changes and modifications in the Act.

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AMI staff undertakes actual inspection work and can take the tests randomly at any place like market, godowns or farm houses.

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They have authority to cancel license if the produce is not found as per the grade specified on the packing.

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In India, developing grade culture in practice has been time consuming and an inconvenient process, the main reason being illiteracy.

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Rural people are with less education and less progress conscious compared to urban people.

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Hence any education and training in rural area is a slow process.

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^nly in the last two decades there is more improvement due to audio-visual (TV) effect. This is the best form of explanation and information specially for the rural public.

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Farmers in India are either illiterates or literates to the extent of reading newspapers.

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Asking them to do high quality work is a difficult task.

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Some of the common feelings and constraints in grading at the producers¶ stage are as follows:

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The agricultural produce are perishables and some are fast perishables. Hence there is very little the producers can do about perishables like milk, butter, ghee, fruits and vegetables.

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·roducers, especially small and marginal farmers need money and they can't delay the goods sale for grading work.

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To get uniformity of production in vast area is partly not in control of the farmer. ^ut of 20 acre land, the produce quality and size may vary from one end to the other. The effects of water and manure varies from point to point.

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There could be side effects of pesticides in some portions of the crop area. Hence, to get standard produce is not always workable.

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It is felt that in case of grains, grading is not required as the buyer of grains goes by feel and rates. |rading is required only for exports.

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The expectations, cooking methods, spices type etc. change from region to region and hence to make uniform grades is difficult.