BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

CHANGES IN PATTERN AND ORGANISATION OF TRADE

With the changing times there has been a constant evolutionary process moulding the socio-economic structure, and consequently, the pattern and organisation of trade and commerce since the beginning of this century. The pattern of trade existing then was the by-product of the tendency towards more or less a self-sufficient economy. The masses were very poor, and the means of transport and communications were far from adequate, and consequently, needs of the people were adjusted in such a way that only goods locally produced were consumed. Cloth, pots, jowar, cutlery, building materials, etc., were imported, while rice, coconuts, salt, dried fish and firewood were exported. Thus the volume of trade with other districts was smaller in comparison to the one that exists at present.

Till 1947, there was neither a co-operative marketing institution, nor any corporate body undertaking marketing business. Regulation of markets through agricultural produce market committees established, under the Bombay Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1939, was non-existent up to 1955, when such an institution was sponsored at Karjat. Unfortunately, existence of the market committees at Karjat, Panvel and Pen is of unimportant consequence and meagre utility. A number of co-operative marketing organisations have recently come into existence in this district in the trade of paddy, apta leaves, etc. However, pace of growth of the co-operative marketing movement had been very slow and it touched a very small sector of the population. Agents of many syndicates at Bombay purchase paddy, rice, wood, coconuts and betel-nuts in the markets in Kolaba. They organise themselves to move the terms of trade in their favour. The primary sellers of agricultural produce, though more conscious and informed than before, remain an unorganised and exploited class.

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