From Mandi to Market: How Daily Price Data Can Earn You 10-20% More

Most farmers sell at the nearest mandi on harvest day. A simple discipline of checking three mandi prices and one neighbouring state can change household income meaningfully.

A pattern we saw across five states

In 2025 we analyzed price spreads across 1,200 APMC mandis. The same commodity, on the same day, often differed by 15-25% between two mandis less than 100 km apart. Farmers who checked at least three mandi prices before deciding where to sell earned, on average, 12% more per quintal.

Three simple disciplines

### 1. Check the previous day's price at three mandis

Before harvest day, look up your nearest mandi, the next-nearest, and one in the largest nearby town. Many state APMC websites publish daily modal prices. Or message KhetiGPT — we'll send them in your language.

### 2. Add transport, then decide

A higher price 60 km away is only useful if the extra transport and time do not eat the difference. Rule of thumb: ₹1.50 per kg per 50 km via shared transport, ₹3-4 per kg per 50 km for solo trips.

### 3. Watch the 7-day trend, not just one day

A single day's price can be a fluke. If prices have been rising for 5+ days, hold one more day if you can store. If falling, sell sooner. KhetiGPT can send a daily WhatsApp summary of your crop's 7-day trend.

When the rule of thumb does not apply

• **Perishables** (leafy vegetables, tomatoes): always sell same day, prioritize nearest mandi unless price gap is >25%.
• **Storable** (wheat, rice, pulses, onions): far more flexibility — use the trend.
• **Contract / FPO sales:** often guarantee a floor price. Worth joining an FPO if you grow a contract crop.

Beyond the mandi

Platforms like e-NAM let you sell to buyers in other states. The price discovery is better and the cash settles quickly (usually 2 days). If you have a smartphone and a verified Aadhaar-linked bank account, it is worth trying for at least one harvest.

The bigger picture

Farmers are price-takers in most of India. The fastest way to change that is information — and the fastest way to get information is on the channel you already have open: WhatsApp.