A study on spatio -temporal distribution of rural periodic market centres in jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India

Rural periodic market centres are the authorized public gathering of rural as well as urban populace of the nearby area treated as a service centre and cater the services to its surroundings. These markets held on periodic basis it is the periodicity of the market centre which bears some considerable impact in marketing transaction on that area. In addition the spatial distribution pattern also leaves the significance effect on the degree of convergence of participants on that area. The pattern of distribution of rural periodic markets in space, time and function as well as commodities offered for sale and the spheres of influence of markets in the area. The frequency of visit of that participant largely depends on the pattern of distribution of rural periodic markets in the district. Data used for this research were obtained from field observation covering 54 rural periodic market centres in the study area. Data collected were presented in tables, appropriate thematic maps, and suitable cartographic techniques. Nearest Neighbour Analysis was applied to find out the pattern of spatial distribution of the market centres. The focus of the study is to highlight the pattern of spatio-temporal distribution of rural periodic markets and necessity of well integrated marketing system in order to keep maintenance of threshold level and development of the region.