Journal of Applied Sciences1812-56541812-5662Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jas.2006.2043.2050RahmanShaikh Moksadur Jun TAKEDA Md. Mohiuddin 9200669Efficient rice marketing is one of the most important factors in determining the rural economy of Bangladesh. This study focuses on the standard of living of rice farmers, production structure, rice selling, marketing channel, rice prices, profit by intermediaries, marketing efficiency and farmers attitudes towards marketing. The study is based on data collected through a survey of 33 farmers and 25 intermediaries carried out during July to August 2003 in Jhikargacha Upazila in Jessore district, south-western part of Bangladesh. In the surveyed area six types of middlemen and eighteen types of major marketing channels were identified. The study found that 27 (82%) farmers sold exclusively unhusked rice and only 6 (18%) farmers sold partially husked rice. The quantity of unhusked rice sold to wholesalers of unhusked rice, stockists, huskers and village merchants were 3297 and 14%, respectively. Although, among all eighteen channels husked rice selling to retailers of husked rice was observed to be the best channel, only 3% of unhusked rice was converted to husked rice and sold through this channel. Husked rice sold through wholesalers of husked rice was also found to be a comparatively efficient channel, but only 5% of unhusked rice was converted to husked rice and sold through this channel. The study found that the marketing of rice in the surveyed area was not efficient. It is argued that because of the limits on alternative ways of improving the conditions of the farmers and as rice is one of the main sources of income, its efficient marketing is essential for increasing their income and that will ultimately be helpful for improving the living standard.]]>Abbott, J.C. and J.P. Makeham,1981Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS),2002Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS),2005Cramer, G.L. and C.W. Jensen,1994Hayami, Y., M. Kikuchi and E.B. Marciano,1999207993Hosley, S. and C.H. Wee,198884352Kohls, R.L. and J.N. Uhl,19805th Edn.,Mahmoud, C. and G. Shively,200430187194Ntengua, M. and W. Steve,199621319336Rahman, S.M., J. Takeda and Y. Shiratake,20055195201Saediman, S., R.P. Ibrahim and M. Ono,20042004William, L.W. and S.M. Elizabeth,199963198218World Bank (WB),2002World Bank WB,20052005Rasul, G. and G.B. Thapa,200479327351