BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

SECTION II-TRADE AND COMMERCE

EXTENT OF EMPLOYMENT

Trade and commerce provide employment to a considerable number of persons in the district. In keeping with the rising tempo of general economic development, trade activities have increased considerably during the last quarter of this century. As per the 1961 Census the total number of persons engaged in trade and commerce in the district was 27,722 out of which 11,874 or 54.66 per cent were in rural areas and 9,848 or 45.38 per cent were in urban areas. The number of workers in trade and commerce formed 2.43 per cent of the total working population in the district. More than half of the total persons engaged in trade are in Ahmadnagar, Shrirampur and Kopargaon talukas. Only 3.51 per cent of the workers in trade and commerce were in wholesale trade, 94.29 per cent in retail trade and only 2.20 per cent in the miscellaneous trading activities. About 57 per cent of the wholesalers were in urban areas. The number of wholesalers trading exclusively in cereals and pulses was 163. The wholesale trade of cereals and pulses appears to be combined with the trade in sugar, spices, oil, etc., the number of persons in which was 261 in the district. The following table gives the distribution of workers in trade and commerce in the district in 1961 [Census of India, 1961, Vol. X, Maharashtra, Part II-B(ii).]: -

TABLE No. 18-EMPLOYMENT IN TRADE AND COMMERCE IN AHMADNAGAR DISTRICT IN 1961

As per 1971 Census, the total number of persons engaged in trade and commerce in the district is enumerated at 31,737, out of which 16,686 or 53 per cent are in rural areas and 15,051 or 47 per cent are in urban areas.

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