BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

REGULATED MARKETS

Regulated Markets: In the past the farmer was deprived of his just reward by the middleman who paid him a lower price or his produce whereas the consumer was also duped as a reasonable price was not charged to him by the same agency. The conditions in which the cultivator had to dispose of his produce were far from satisfactory. The standard of markets where agricultural produce is marketed at present was also very poor in the past. There existed larger variations in market practices and on the whole the functions of the marketing machinery were more inclined towards safeguarding the interest of the traders and the middlemen rather than those of the primary producer, there was no check on weights and measures prevailing or on extra-ordinary and illegal deductions made. The marketing machinery was choked up with such glaring malpractices that it had thrown the cultivator in a mood of pessimism and helplessness. The cultivators were also ignorant about their state in the economic process associated with the marketing of agricultural produce and had thus to depend solely on the middleman. An average agriculturist was the victim of distress sales which led to windfall gains and profits to the traders. This slate of affairs received tire attention of the British Government [ The Berar districts were ceded by the Nizam of Hyderabad to the British Government by the treaty of 1853.For details see Chapter 2.] who enacted the Hyderabad Residency Cotton and Grain Markets Law of 1897. This enactment led to the establishment of many markets [Year of establishment of the market is given in bracket.] viz., Murtizapur (1899, Washim (1899), Karanja (1886) Akot (1898), and Akola (1887). Under this Law, the market committee was constituted of representatives of traders alone. However, this enactment, was not of much consequence as most of the agricultural produce was sold outside the market, and there was no regulation as such. The Royal Commission on Agriculture (1927) studied the entire problem and recommended to the Government of India the necessity of regulating the mode of agricultural marketing. Subsequently also, various Government Commissions stressed the need to protect the interest of the agriculturists and to evolve a pattern of regulation of marketing.

Accordingly the Government of the Central Provinces superceded the Hyderabad Residency Cotton and Grain Markets Law of 1897. and enacted the Central Provinces and Berar Cotton Markets Act of 1932 which was subsequenly amended in 1937. This Act sought to regulate the trade in cotton alone, and prescribed that the market committee should comprise representatives of agriculturists, traders and local bodies. Fifty percent of the members were required to be representatives of the agriculturists. All the cotton markets established under the law of 1897 were deemed to be regulated under the new enactment of 1932. For the marketing of foodgrains and other agricultural produce, a separate Act, viz., the Central Provinces and Berar Agricultural Produce Markets Act of 1985, was brought into force. This Act was made applicable to all the grain markets in the district.

The two enactments [After the Formation of Madhya Pradesh of which Berar was a part the words "C P. and Berar" in the nomenclature of the Act were substituted by 'Madhya Pradesh".] viz., the Central Provinces and Berar Cotton Markets Act of 1932, and the Central Provinces and Berar Agricultural Produce Markets Act of 1935, alongwith their amendments were in force till the application of the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1963. The new-Act consolidated the provisions in the various market Acts existent in the three regions of Maharashtra. All the cotton markets as well as grain markets established under the earlier Acts have been brought under the purview of the unified Act.

In the district there are, at present, nine important market places where agricultural produce is assembled. Agricultural produce market committees have already been formed at nine places viz., (1) Akola, (2) Akot, (3) Murtizapur, (4) Washim, (5) Karanja, (6) Telhara, (7) Risod, (8) Mangrulpir and (9) Malegaon. The markets have committees as per the provisions contained in the Central Provinces and Berar Act, 1935. The Act provides for establishment of market committees consisting of not less than ten and not more than 16 members. The representatives of the committee are members representing growers, traders, local authority and Government. The main features of the Act are regulation of market practices, clear definition of market charges and reduction of excessive charges, licensing of market functionaries e. g., buyers, brokers, and weighmen, use of standard weights and measures, settlement of disputes, publishing of reliable and upto-date market information, and Government control over markets and market committees. The committees, at present, are deemed to be regulated under the Maharashtra Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1963 which has been made applicable to the district since 25th May 1967 by repealing the earlier Acts.

According to this new Act the prices of commodities brought into the market are settled by open auction or by an open agreement in the presence of officials of the market committee. This rule is strictly adhered to. Before the auction starts the individual lots are arranged in open heaps for inspection of the buyers. Previously, Cotton was sold by fardi system and the rate of cotton was declared in the market committee office. The system was found to be defective as there was no chance of getting maximum prices for the produce of the cultivators. To remove these defects a new system viz., the cart-wise auction of cotton was introduced. Under this system the produce is arranged in heaps of bullock carts near the adat. shops of the authorised general commission agents. The general commission agents who are also called adatyas play the key role of intermediaries between the cultivators and traders. They dispose of the agricultural produce on behalf of the cultivators and get commission in this transaction at rates prescribed by the market committee. The traders or their representatives inspect the agricultural produce and start bidding. The bidding is done in the presence of the market supervisors appointed by the market committee. As soon as the bargain is agreed between the cultivator and the trader, the general commission agent prepares an agreement called kabulayat regarding price and quantity. The officials of the market committee supervise ail these transactions. The bargain is registered in the register of market committee, after which the necessary payments regarding market fee etc., are made to the market committee.

The weighment of all agricultural commodities except cotton is completed in the market yard by the licensee of the market committee. The weighment of cotton is undertaken generally in the premises of the ginning and pressing factories. As soon as the weighment is completed the commission agent prepares sale proceeds and payment is made to the cultivator seller immediately. The weighment and payment is supervised by the supervisory start of the market committee. The weighment is done in quintals. The unit of sale for price quotations is also in terms of quintals.

The market committees thus render a very useful service for the development of agricultural marketing by giving a just price to the cultivators for their produce. Moreover, they have encouraged and propagated the importance of their services by providing pure, unadulterated and clean produce to the traders.

The supervising staff of the market committees supervises all the operations involved in the marketing of agricultural produce. The code of business conduct is prescribed and arrangements are made to settle any dispute as and when it arises. The functionaries in the market viz., general commission agents, hamals and weighmen are licensed by the market committee. On payment of a prescribed fee they are issued licences. The market committees shoulder the responsibility for ensuring smooth and steady business and protection to the interests of the agriculturists.

Besides, the market committees also arrange for publicity and dissemination of information of prices and market news. All the statistical information is sent to the Marketing Research Officer, Bombay, the Economic and Statistical Advisor to Government of India, New Delhi, and other concerned offices. Every day the prices of jowar and cotton are sent to Government of India, New Delhi, by telegram and prices of other important commodities are sent to the Marketing Research Officer Bombay by express telegram for broadcast, Daily prices are also sent by telegram to Parbhani Radio station and some important Grampanchayats. Besides, the trends of prices of various commodities in important regulated markets in the district as well as Maharashtra State are announced for information of the local agriculturists before the auction takes place. This serves as a guide to the sellers as well as to the buyers of agricultural produce.

The work of supervision and control over regulated markets was done by the District Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Akola since the inception of the market committees in the district. But with the passing of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samitis Act of 1961 the work of supervision and control over regulated markets has been entrusted to Zilla Parishad. The Co-operation and Industries Officer of Zilla Parishad has to work as a liaison officer between the market committees and the Department for promotional activities. This has been implemented from 25th May 1967.

There was no provision in the then existing Central Provinces and Berar Agricultural Produce Market Act and Cotton Market Act in force in Vidarbha region regarding the expansion of the market yards. A provision pertaining to this has been incorporated in the new unified Act enforced in 1967. Under the new Act two proposals for expansion of market yards at Washim and Risod were passed and the respective market committees are at present functioning in the new market yards.

To decide the quality of the agricultural produce grading system has been introduced in the district in the yards of Murtizapur and Washim markets. The graders have been appointed at Government cost. Goods graded by these units have proved successful in forcing better prices in the market. Likewise the rest of the market committees in the district are directed to keep the samples of various kinds of produce brought for sale in the market.

To keep the agricultural produce of the agriculturists intact, the storage facilities are available in almost all the market committees. There is a warehouse owned by the Central Warehousing Corporation at Akola since 1960. The State Warehousing Corporation started its godown at Karanja in 1962-63. These warehouses are utilised by the agriculturists who benefit by getting better prices in the market for their produce and by averting the damage to agricultural produce resulting from unscientific methods of storage. The Akola central warehouse has 12 godowns in proper Akola city, having storage capacity of 34,032 bags. It provided storage for nearly 3,30,168 bags of various commodities during the market year of 1968-69. The State Warehouse at Karanja provided storage to 85,901 bags of various commodities in its 10 godowns having a storage capacity of 19,590 bags.

Agricultural produce market committees at Washim and Risod have completed development work of their yard from the loan granted to them by the Government of Maharashtra. The Akola, Akot and Telhara agricultural produce market committees have been granted loan by Government for acquiring land for carrying out development work for providing various amenities in the market yards. The Akot market committee has acquired 34 acres 20 gunthas of land and has completed wire fencing to the said land. Similarly Akola market committee has acquired 52 acres 10 gunthas of land for its new market yard. The agricultural produce market committee at Telhara has also acquired 10 acres of land by private negotiation during the year 1966-67. Almost all the market committees in the district have their fully developed market yards with essential market amenities and facilities in the market yards. Akola and Karanja market committees have been declared as class 1 markets while the markets at Akot, Telnara, Murtizapur, Washim and Risod as class II markets by the Commissioner of Nagpur Division. Uptil now 8 employees of the market committees in the district were sent for training at the training centre at Sangli.

In conclusion it can be said that due to revised rates of fees admissible under the new Act, the market committees, at present, are in a position to build up their financial resources on their own account. They are now able to develop their market yards by undertaking development activities with their own funds and sometimes by taking loans from the Government. All the market committees in the district are the members of the central advisory committee. Disputes are settled amicably and at times by the dispute sub-committees, which instances are rare. Due to the regulation of markets the agriculturists in the district have immensely benefited and instances of malpractices etc., are on the way to decline. The payments to the sellers are made promptly and fully. Unauthorised deductions have been stopped. As a result the agriculturists get better prices for their produce. In short, the market committees in the district are trying to render the best possible services to the cultivators and traders. The interest of the consumers as far as possible is safeguarded with a steady and continuous flow of a number of agricultural commodities arriving in the market yard. An increasing number of cooperative societies are also effectively stepping into the shoes of private traders making bulk purchases to contribute towards the general stabilisation of prices and giving just rewards to the agriculturists.

The production of different agricultural commodities in the district is seasonal. Each and every commodity has its own period of production such as kharif and rabbi and accordingly commodities are brought for sale in the market. The following statement shows the peak and full marketing seasons of the various commodities corresponding to their harvesting season.

The account of business transactions and the mode of operations of the various existing markets in their structural and historical aspects is given below.

Akola. Akola is a very important trade centre in the district situated on the Bombay-Howrah trunk railway line and the Khandwa-Hingoli-Purna line. The railway transport facility is supplemented by good road transport facilities, as this town is served by the Bombay-Nagpur national highway and the roads leading to the districts of Buldhana Amravati, Yeotmal, Nanded and Parbhani. It is also linked by roads with all the tahsil headquarters which are also inter-connected with each other by good motorable roads. The jurisdiction of this market committee extends over Akola Panchayat Samiti. However agricultural produce from many parts of the district is assembled at this market because the agriculturists get higher prices at Akola.

The cotton market at Akola was established in 1898 and was brought within the purview of the subsequent enactments of 1932, 1935, 1937 and 1963. At present the below mentioned commodities are regulated: cotton, groundnut, jowar, wheat, udid, mug, mug dal, tur dal, gram dal, bajari, math, castorseed, maka, barbati, barbati dal, watana, tur, gram, sesamum, linseed, rai, toli, gum, neemseed, ambadi, etc.

The market committee possesses a permanent market yard providing the usual facilities. New market yard was constructed during 1966-67 which occupies an area of about three acres of land for operating its business. The cost of construction amounted to Rs. 1,42,332. Office building, weighing shed, cattle shed, water-pool for cattle, sheds for auction, cloak rooms, etc. are built in the new market yard.

Agricultural produce is sold by auction. The cotton crop occupied an area of about 59,346 hectares of land, which was followed by jowar with 51,355 hectares of land in 1968-69 in Akola tahsil. The following table gives the volume of trade transacted at Akola market during 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72.

TABLE No. 23

Arrival and Value of goods traded at Akola market during 1989-70 to 1971-72

TABLE No. 23. Count.

Akola is one of the biggest cotton markets in Maharashtra. This statement becomes obvious from the fact that the arrivals of raw cotton amounted to about 69,000 carts at this market in 1971-72.

The entire cotton transacted in the market is now purchased by the Cotton Corporation of India and is then ginned and pressed in the ginning and pressing factories in the district. Cotton is exported all over Maharashtra as well as outside the State. Besides cotton, groundnut oil is also exported outside the district. Udid is exported to Madras, tur dal is sent to Bombay, Nagpur and Khandwa.

Institutional finance is available to the traders from the State Bank of India, District Central Co-operative Bank and the Central Bank of India.

The Maharashtra Co-operative Marketing Federation has chosen Akola centre for procurement of agricultural produce since 30th April 1972. This has resulted in an increase in arrival of cotton at Akola. Being encouraged by this the Federation has opened its branches at all centres in the district.

Agriculturists get better prices for their produce at this market. The following statement shows the monthly prices of all commodities regulated at the centre.

The income and expenditure of the market was to the tune of Rs. 2,09,551 and Rs. 3,38,468, respectively in 1971-72.

Monthly Price Fluctuations of the commodities regulated at Akola centre for the year 1971

Monthly Price Fluctuations of the commodities regulated at Akola centre for the year 1971-Contd.

Akot.—Akot is also a very important trade centre in the district situated on the Khandwa-Hingoli-Purna metre gauge railway line. Besides, there are good road transport facilities, the roads leading to Akola, Daryapur, Telhara, Khamgaon, Achalpur, etc.

The cotton market at Akot was established in 1898 and commensed its transactions since 1st April 1898 and was brought within the purview of the subsequent enactments. The jurisdiction of the market committee extends over an area of the Akot Panchayat Samiti. At persent the below mentioned commodities die regulated-cotton, rui, groundnut, jowar, wheat, gram, lakh, udid, tur. mug, rice, sesamum, linseed, bajari, math, barbati, etc. Cotton is however the principal item of wholesale trade at Akot. The cotton crop occupied an area of about 66,457 hectares of land, which was followed by jowar with 32,006 hectares of land in the Akot tahsil in 1968-69.

The market committee possesses a permanent market yard providing the usual facilities. Government advanced a loan of Rs. 5,55,000 for the development of Akot market yard, actual expenditure on which amounted to Rs. 6,09,103 upto 1970-71, The market yard occupied 34.20 gunthas of land. Office building, weighing shed, approach roads, water-pool and shed for cattle, sued for auction, cloak-rooms, etc. are built in the market yard.

The sales are done on the basis of auction. Now, the entire cotton transacted in the market is sold to the Cotton Corporation of India. There are nine ginning and four pressing factories, two oil mills and one dal-mill in the town which are licence-holders of the market committee.

Finance is available to the traders from the State Bank of India, the Central Bank of India and the District Central Cooperative Bank. The functionaries in this market comprised 61 traders, 46 commission agents, 24 coolies, 33 weighmen and 52 helpers in 1970-71. Akot Taluka Co-operative Purchase and Sale Society is holding a purchasing licence.

The yearly average arrival of agricultural produce in Akot market is about 45,500 carts of cotton and 49,000 bags of food-grains and the annual turnover amounts to about Rs. two crores.

The income and expenditure of the market committee were to the tune of Rs. 2,15,935 and Rs. 1,88,874, respectively in 1971-72. The following statement shows the income, expenditure and the surplus of the market committee during 1968-69 to 1970-71.

(Figures in Rs.)

The following table gives the volume of trade transacted at Akot market during 1968-69, 1969-70 and 1970-71.

TABLE No. 24

Turnover of trade at Akot market during 1968-69 to 1970-71

(Figs, of arrival in tonnes and of value in thousand rupees)

The cotton purchased by the market committee is ginned and pressed by the licensed ginning and pressing factories. The following statement shows the statistics regarding the quantity of cotton ginned and pressed during 1968-69 to 1970-71.

The following statement shows the total arrival of all commodities and their value during 1968-69 to 1970-71.

The above two statements show the deterioration in the market transactions due to the scarcity of rains in 1970-71.

The following statement shows the monthly price fluctuations in Akot market.

Monthly Prices per quintal in Akot Market (1970-71)

Malegaon.—The Malegaon Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Washim tahsil was established on 25th May 1967. The actual functioning of the market committee was started from 1st January 1969 under the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act 1963. The fertile area around Malegaon and Shirpur and the convenient location of Malegaon town for quick disposal of agricultural produce has led to the establishment of this market committee. The town is however not linked by railway for the disposal of agricultural produce.

The area of the market committee coincides with the area over which the Malegaon Panchayat Samiti has jurisdiction. Besides, the market committee has started its sub-market yards at Medshi and Shirpur from September 1969. The market committee is composed of 14 members who are representatives of agriculturists, traders and Government.

Twenty-four agricultural commodities come under regulation in Malegaon market, the important among them being cotton, groundnut, mug,, wheat, tur, til, gram, masur, linseed, barbati, bajara, ambadi mohari, methi gur, maize, watana, etc.

The market committee derives its income by way of market fee and licence fee and from other sources. Market fee is levied at the rate of 10 paise per quintal for foodgrains and 15 paise per quintal for cotton. The market committee also receives subsidy from the government which was Rs. 3,000 in the year 1968. The total income of the market committee amounted to Rs. 14,848.35 by way of market and licence fees and other sources in the year 1968-69, whereas the expenditure amounted to Rs. 8,453.25 in the same year keeping a balance of Rs. 6,395.10.

The market committee has several proposals under consideration of which construction of office building and purchasing new plot for market yard are the most important. The committee has raised necessary funds to execute these proposals. The market committee does not possess godowns of its own so that the traders keep the agricultural produce in their own godowns. The market committee only controls and manages the sale and purchase activities in the markets as per the provisions of the Act.

In the market various categories of market functionaries operate. The traders are categorised into A and B classes. Besides traders, agents, hemals and weighmen also operate in the market. Their statistical information for the year 1968-69 is given in the following statement.

The market committee has been provided financial assistance by a number of financial agencies at a comparatively low rate of interest. Besides a number of private traders also provide financial assistance in terms of loans to the market committee. The names of the financial agencies are given below.

1. Kharedi-Vikri Sanstha, Malegaon.

2. Akola District Central Co-operative Bank, Malegaon branch.

3. Supervising Union, Malegaon.

4. Land Development Bank, Malegaon branch.

5. Panchayat Samiti, Malegaon

The weekly market held here and the biggest of its kind in Washim tahsil, is mainly responsible for adding to the prosperity of the market committee. A large number of traders and other market functionaries attend the market on the bazar day. Besides, 15 purchasers and 30 adatyas attend the market yard daily.

Total arrivals of various commodities and their value is shown in the following statement.

Total arrivals and value of various commodities at Malegaon market during January to September, 1968.

Risod.—The Risod Agricultural Produce Market Committee was established on 11th March 1953 at Risod in Washim tahsil initially as a grain market. On 9th April 1958 it was converted into a cotton Market and from 25th May 1967 it was converted into a full-fledged market committee.

The area of operation of the market committee extends over a radius of ten miles from Risod and 45 villages around Risod are brought under its jurisdiction. Besides the principal market yard at Risod, the market committee has started 3 additional sub-market yards at Loni, Kenwad and Asegaon. The market committee is composed of 11 elected members of whom five represent the agriculturists, one trader, one adatyu, two Zilla Parishad. Akola and of the rest, one is a local representative and one a Government nominee. The committee has control over sale and purchase activities of the market yard.

The following commodities among others are regulated. The total number of these commodities is 54 and the prominent among them an jowar, sal, rice, cotton, rui, mug, udid, tur, groundnut, linseed, gram, castorseed. masur, bajara, wheat, gur, chillis, halad, ambadi, jute, maize, wal. barbati (chavali). lakh, math, watana, mohari, methi, etc. From 1962 a few more commodities have been brought under regulation by this market committee viz.. coconut, mango, orange, all types of cattle, vegetables, fish and other necessary articles of daily use.

The market yard is a spacious one admeasuring about 16 acres and 8 gunthas of land. The committee has its own office building built at a cost of Rs. 17,796. The committee has also built two rest houses, one for the agriculturists and the other for members of the committee at a cost of Rs. 60,000. The newly constructed canteen, stall quarters, and rest houses provide the essential facilities to the traders and agriculturists. The other facilities provided by the market committee in the market yard are water tank, water trough for cattle, cattle sheds, electricity, two wells working on an electric motor, pakka roads and lavatories. The market yard is fenced. The committee has also incurred an expenditure of Rs. 25,316 for gram platforms, of Rs. 16,056 for godowns and of Rs. 38,100 for sheds.

Storage facilities are. also available in the market yard to keep agricultural produce. At present there are four godowns of which two are built by market committee and one each by Government and a co-operative society. The foflowing statement shows the storage capacity of the godowns.

The attendance of agriculturists, traders, adatyas etc., in the market depends upon the season. On an average it is about 50 to 60 per day whereas in the peak season the number increases to 200 to 250. The method of sale followed in the market is by-open auction.

The functionaries working in the market yard are sellers, buyers, adatyas, hamals, weighmen, processors, brokers, etc. The details regarding their number are given in the following statement.

Market functionaries at Risod Market

The market committee derives its income from market fees, licence fees and from other miscellaneous rates. The rates charged for various activities are shown in the foflowing statement.

The income of the committee from various sources and expenditure for the three years from 1966-67 to 1968-69 is given in the foflowing statement.

(Amount in rupees.)

The turnover of various regulated commidities during; 1966-67 to 1968-69 is given in the following table.

TABLE No. 25

Arrivals and Value of Agricultural Commodities at Risod Market Committee from 1966-67 to 1968-69

Washim.—Washim is an important regulated market in the district and was established under the old Hyderabad Residency Act of 10th July 1899 us a cotton market. The grain market was started on 30th August 1944 under the Central Provinces and Berar Agricultural Produce Market Act of 1935. At present the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1963 is applied to this market. Since its establishment the market has maintained steady progress of effective regulation and expansion of agricultural marketing. It is situated convenently as regards transport and communications, as it is served by important arteries of trade like the Hingoli-Khandwa line of the central railway. Akola-Hingoli state highway and other major district roads.

The area of operation of the market committee is over a radius of 10 miles about Washim town. The market Committee is composed of ten elected members of whom five are representatives of agriculturists, three represent traders and one each represents the municipality and the Zilla Parishad, respectively.

Cotton is the main agricultural produce regulated besides jowar, groundnut, mug, udid, sesamum, tur. sal, rice, rui, linseed, gram, castorseed, masur, bajari, wheat, gur, chillis, halad, ambadi, til, jawas, karadai, barbati, watana, mataki, methi, mohari, etc. The total number of commodities regulated by this market committee is 54. From 1967 various oilier articles including fruits have also been brought under regulation of the market committee.

Though the market yard at Washim is spacious the market committee has purchased a new plot of 32 acres and 11 gunthas where it proposes to have a new market yard. The committee has provided all the necessary amenities, such as, sheds, drinking water, water tank, cattle trough, sanitary block, electricity, roads, radio sets etc., in its market yard. It has built a spacious office building and a rest house for agriculturists. The canteen building and a rest house for traders is under construction. A warehouse providing storage facilities on scientific lines is a special feature of this market committee. These amenities have a salutary effect on encouraging the agriculturists to sell their produce in the premises of the market yard.

The functionaries in the market yard are sellers, buyers, adatyas, hamals, weighmen, processors, brokers, etc. Their attendance in the market yard depends upon the season. The details about their attendance are given in the foflowing statement.

The total number of market functionaries comprised adtyas 34, 'A' class traders 37, 'B' class traders 43, weighmen 19, processors 7, helpers 81 and hamals 106 in the year 1968-69.

As it is a last developing old market committee its financial position is sound. The committee derives its income by way of licence fee, market fee, stamp duty, rent, etc. In the year 1968-69 the income of the market committee amounted to Rs. 1,45,590.43 and the expenditure to Rs. 98,545.84.

To finance the various schemes, the market committee has obtained a loan from the Government. The details of the loan are as under.

The co-operative society functioning at Washim viz., the Washim Taluka Sale and Purchase Society Ltd., plays an important role in the working of the market committee.

Grading system is a special feature of this market committee. Since its introduction in 1964 it has succeeded in giving the agriculturists a fair price for their produce. The agriculturists consequently bring produce in the market which is of a standard quality. A separate unit of graders is attached to this market committee nominated by the Government. At present the grading system is applied only to three agricultural commodities viz., udid, tur and groundnut. Table No. 26 shows the turnover of trade, table No. 27 the statistics of prices while table No. 28 furnishes the quantity of graded commodities at Washim market.

TABLE No. 26

Arrivals and Value of Agricultural Commodities at Washim Market during

1967-68 and 1968-69

TABLE No. 27

Wholesale, Retail and Seasonal Prices of the Agricultural Commodities at Washim Market during 1967-68 & 1968-69.

(Rates in Rs.)

TABLE No. 28

Graded Commodities at Washim Market for the years from 1965 to 1969

Telhara.- The Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Telhara was initially established under the old Hyderabad Residency Act on 25th September 1919 for regulation of cotton trade. On 25th November 1960 the market committee was brought under the purview of the Central Provinces and Berar Agricultural Produce Market Act of 1935. At present the market committee is regulated under the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1963. The jurisdiction of the market committee extends over a radius of 10 miles for cotton and four miles for grains from the market yard. The market committee is composed of ten elected members of whom live are from agriculturists constituency, three from traders constituency and one each from the municipality and the Zilla Parishad.

Following among others are the commodities regulated by this market committee:— cotton, jowar, groundnut, mug, Udid, sesamum,tur, linseed, gram castorseeds, masur, gur, etc.

The market committee has provided all the necessary facilities required by agriculturists as well as traders in the market yard, such as, water, electricity, water trough, cattle sheds, wells for drinking water, open squares to sell the foodgrains etc. The committee has also purchased 10 acres of land for its new market yard. The entire market yard is fenced. Besides, the market committee has its own spacious building for office and a rest house for agriculturists.

To keep the agricultural produce intact the necessary storage facilities are also available in the market yard. Besides the godowns owned by the market committee, the traders have built godowns of their own on the market yard. The agricultural produce brought by the agriculturists is kept in the committees godowns on very nominal charges, whereas the storage charges are fixed by the market committee for the use of godowns owned by traders.

Attendance of the traders, agriculturists, hamals and adatyas in the market yard depends upon the season. Generally during the peak season i.e., after the harvesting of the agricultural produce the number of traders, agriculturists as well as adatyas is substantial. On an average the daily attendance could be placed at from 20 to 30 traders and agriculturists. Besides there are 69 hamals, 23 weighmen, 8 processors, 18 adatyas and 15 buyers who attend the market regularly.

The income of the market committee is derived from licence See and market fee.

The following statement gives the details as regards the income, number of licences issued and licence fee for the year 1967-68.

The market committee sends weekly reports about its functioning and statistical information about market prices to the Economic and Statistical Advisor to Government of India New Delhi, the Marketing Research Officer, Bombay and the District Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Akola. It also sends monthly report to Co-operation and Industries Officer, and Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Akola. Besides this, the market prices of different market centres, such as Shegaon, Akot, Akola etc., are displayed daily on the notice board. Generally the market prices of various commodities at Telhara market fluctuate according to the change in the prices at Akot.

The transactions in regard to various commodities take place in the market yard. The total arrivals and their value during the three years from 1966-67 to 1968-69 are given in the following statement.

Statement showing arrivals and value of agricultural commodities at Telhara Market Committee for the year 1968-69.

In the market yard 'the co-operative marketing societies play an important role. The monopoly procurement of jowar is mainly one through these co-operative societies. There are at present two societies, viz., Telhara Block Sale and Purchase Society and, Telhara Block Development Co-operative Ginning and Pressing Society Ltd.

Murtizapur.—Murtizapur situated on the Bombay-Nagpur-Howrah and Yeotmal-Achalpur railway lines of the Central Railway is a very important centre of trade. The railway transport facility is supplemented by good road transport facilities as this town is served by the Bombay-Nagpur national highway and the roads leading to Yeotmal, Amravati and Parbhani. The cotton market at Murtizapur was established in 1899, and was brought within the purview of the subsequent enactments. The grain market was established in 1957 under the Central Provinces and Berar Act and was subsequently brought under the purview of Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1963.

The market committee is composed of seven elected representatives of agriculturists, traders, the municipality and the Zilla Parishad. At present the below mentioned commodities are regulated by the market committee viz.. cotton, jowar, wheat, mug, udid. chavali, gram, tur, maize, math. hulaga, groundnut, sesamum, castorseed, safflower, mohari, jawas, tolambi, chilli, gul. and some fruits.

The area of operation of the market committee extends over the entire Murtizapur block. The market yard admeasures four acres of land winch has been obtained from Government on rental basis with a rent of Rs. 137 per annum. The market yard provides facilities, such as, sheds, drinking water, water tank. cattle trough, electricity, roads, radio-sets, etc. The market committee has its own office building.

The income of the market committee from various sources, such as, licence fee, market fee, stamp duty, etc., amounted to Rs. 34,000 during the year 1968-69 whereas the expenditure also amounted to the same in the same year. Besides, the market committee also obtains loans from the brandies of the foflowing institutions.

(1) State Bank of India

(2) Bank of Baroda

(3) Bank of Maharashtra.

(4) District Central Co-operative Bank

(5) Murtizapur Sale and Purchase Co-operative Society.

Grading system for selected foodgrains is prevalent in the market. This has a good effect upon the quality of foodgrains brought to the market yard by the agriculturists. At present the following commodities are graded viz., tur, wheat, udid, mug, gram and bajri.

The destination of the various agricultural commodities from the Murtizapur market yard is as under.

Cotton. Madras, Bombay, Ahmadabad, Sholapur and Nagpur

Tur : Madras and Nagpur

Wheat: Akola, Yeotmal, Digras

Udid: Madras

Til : Madras

Jawas : Akola, Amravati

Groundnut: Amravati and Yeotmal.

The market functionaries comprise various agencies, such as adatyas, traders, brokers, hamals, processors, weighmen, etc. The Murtizapur market committee had the following market functionaries in the year 1968-69, viz., purchasers 28, adatyas 36, weighmen 21, hamals 78. processors 4, and helpers 41.

The Murtizapur municipality levies market charges on some agricultural commodities brought to the market yard as under:— cotton Re. 0.20 per quintal, foodgrains Re. 0.40 per bag and til Re. 0.30 per bag.

Table No. 29 shows the wholesale Prices, while table No. 30 furnishes the statistics of turnover of trade at Murtizapur market during 1968-69.

TABLE No. 29

Wholesale Prices of Agricultural Commodities at Murtizapur Market from
1964-65 to 1968-69

TABLE No. 30

Arrivals and Value of Agricultural commodities at Murtizapur Market in 1968-69

Mangrulpir.—The Mangrulpir market is proposed to be developed into lull fledged market, the administration of which is looked after at present by Mangrulpir municipal council. The jurisdiction of the market extends over a radius of 10 kilometres. The agricultural produce from 45 surrounding villages is brought to this market. The market yard is located on an area of one square mile which is owned by the municipal council.

The following agricultural commodities are brought to this market, viz., cotton, udid, mug, barbati, tur, groundnut and all pulses. The number of agriculturists attending the market is about 6,000 per annum. Besides agriculturists, 25 traders, 45 adatyas, 4 brokers, 15 weighmen and 90 hamals attend the market daily. The sale of agricultural commodities is done by open auction. The financial assistance to the market is provided by the branches of the State Bank of India, and the District Central Co-operative Bank. The municipal council issues licences to traders to carry on their business at the market.

The arrivals and the value of various agricultural commodities at this market during the year 1968-69 is given in the foflowing statement.

Karanja. —Karanja which is an entrepot centre of trade since long, is a big cotton and grain market in Akola. Cotton market at Karanja was established as early as 1886 and was subsequently brought under the purview of the Hyderabad Residency Cotton and Grain Markets Law, 1897. The market was subsequently regulated under the Acts of 1932, and 1935 and the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1963. The convenient and favourable location in regard to transport and communication is the main reason for the development of this centre. It has been connected by Achalpur-Yeotmal narrow gauge railway line to other important places within and outside the district.

The market area extends over a radius of ten miles but the jurisdiction of the market committee extends over the entire Karanja block. Till 1963 the cotton market had jurisdiction over an area within a radius of 50 miles from both Akola and Yeotmal districts, and cotton and other agricultural produce used to come to this market from both these districts as well as from Amravati district. But with the establishment of cotton and grain markets at Murtizapur, Darwha and Digras (in Yeotmal district) the cotton and other agricultural produce are diverted to these newly established markets. The market committee is composed of ten elected representatives of whom five represent agriculturists, three traders, and one each the municipality and the Zilla Parishad.

Cotton is the most important regulated commodity at this market. Besides cotton, a number of other agricultural commodities, such as, groundnut, jowar, udid, tur, mug, bajari wheat, rice, gram, etc., also come under regulation. It should, however, be noted that agricultural produce, other than cotton, viz., foodgrains was brought under actual regulation of this market committee from I960.[Prior to 1960 the trade in foodgrains was under the jurisdiction of the municipality.]

Karanja had a large number of market functionaries in 1968-69 consisting of 49 adatyas, 34 'A' class traders, 4 'B' class traders, 26 'C class traders, 8 'D' class traders, 3 dalal, 60 weighmen, 4 processors, 2 hundekaris, 143 hamals, 60 helpers and 59 cartmen.

The market committee derives its income from market cess and licence fee. The annual income of the committee in 1968-69 was Rs. 57,650.48 composed of Rs. 45,052 by way of market fees and Rs. 11,663 by way of licence fees. The total expenditure during the same year amounted to Rs 42,380.86 which meant a surplus of Rs. 15,804.62. The market committee is required to pay a sum of Rs. 7,000 on an average accounting for 20 percent of its total income by way of wear and tear to the Karanja municipality. In addition the surplus of the committee was also required to be handed over to the municipality. This practice which, considerably affected the financial position of the market committee was discontinued in 1958. In 1960 the committee took over the grain market from the municipality and since then its financial position has improved considerably.

Karanja is a collecting as well as a distributing centre of trade in cotton, groundnut, and almost all foodgrains. Raw cotton is collected in the market from within the area of its jurisdiction as well as from other parts of the district and also from Yeotmal and Amravati districts. After ginning and pressing in the local factories, the bales are exported to Bombay, Nagpur, Pulgaon, Ahmedabad, Surat, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Madura and Coimbtore. Groundnut oil is the second largest commodity to be exported out of the district. There are, at present, 7 oil-mills and oil is exported to Bombay, Nagpur, Amravati, Yeotmal, Calcutta and Madras.

The Karanja market committee was provided with warehousing facilities on scientific lines by the Maharashtra State Warehousing Corporation in 1961. In the year 1968, 1.39,488 bags of various commodities such as foodgrains, groundnut, cotton seed etc., were stored in the godowns. Besides, the traders themselves have godowns of their own. The warehousing charges per quintal per month are about 20 to 24 paise for foodgrains, 45 paise for groundnut and 60 paise for cotton.

The Karanja cotton and grain market committee has no land for its own market yard. It is functioning on the plot given by the Karanja municipality where the market committee has provided necessary amenities, such as, a rest house for traders and agriculturists, store room, cattle sheds, water trough, rooms for watchmen, 3 wells, lavatories and urinals, electricity, platforms for open auction of the foodgrains, radio-set, loudspeaker etc. In 1968 the market committee purchased a duplicator machine to print wall papers and handbills for distribution among traders and agriculturists for publicity.

Institutional finance is made available to the traders in this market by the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Akola District Central Co-operative Bank. Besides, the State Warehousing Corporation also arranges for the advances to traders as well as to the agriculturists on the security of the goods stored with it.

Co-operative marketing has played a very important role to boost up the trade. There are at present three co-operative marketing societies viz., (1) Co-operative Sale Purchase Society, Murtizapur, (Karanja Branch), (2) Karanja Co-operative Sale Purchase Society and, (3) Vikas Khand Co-operative Sale Purchase Society, Manora (Karanja Branch). The Murtizapur Co-operative Society does adat business on the market yard. The Karanja Co-operative Society functions as a sub-agent of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Society, Bombay for monopoly procurement of jowar.

The turnover and monthly prices of regulated commodities at the Karanja market yard are given in table Nos. 31 and 32.

TABLE No. 31

Arrivals and value of Agricultural Commodities at Karanja Market from
1966-67 to 1968-69

TABLE No. 32

Monthly Prices of Agricultural Commodities at Karanja Market In 1968-69

(Prices in Rs. per quintal)

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