BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

REGULATED MARKETS

The ten regulated markets in the district are the wholesale trade centres in the district which are mainly the export centres of surplus commodities. Barshi market is the most important exporting centre in the district.

The condition of agricultural marketing was far from satisfactory in the past. The agriculturist handicapped by his ignorance and poverty was deprived of the fruits of his production, and had to sell his goods at unprofitable prices. His incapability to hold the sales till the market turned favourable was fully exploited by the traders who used to contrive to bid low prices. Agricultural marketing was also fraught with innumerable malpractices such as unauthorised deductions, false weights, delayed payment and a number of practices which were detrimental to the interests of the fanner. This state of affairs received the attention of the Royal Commission on Agriculture (1927) which recommended to the Government the necessity of regulating the trade in agricultural commodities. Accordingly the then Government of Bombay enacted the Bombay Cotton Markets Act in 1927. Subsequently the Bombay Provincial Banking Enquiry Committee (1931) also stressed the need for protection to the agricultural community in the disposal of marketable surplus by establishing a chain of regulated markets. Similarly various Government commissions appointed from time to time also stressed the need to protect the interest of the agriculturists and evolve a pattern of regulation of marketing.

Accordingly the Bombay Government replaced the old Bombay Cotton Markets Act which regulated only cotton trade by passing the broad-based Act, viz., the Bombay Agricultural Produce Markets Act in 1939. This Act brought the sale and purchase of a number of commodities under the purview of the enactment. All the cotton markets established under the Bombay Cotton Markets Act of 1927 were deemed to be regulated under the new enactment of 1939.

The main objectives of this enactment were: (1) to bring about equity in bargaining power among the agriculturists and traders, (2) to promote mutual confidence, (3) to prevent malpractices and (4) to give a fair deal to the peasants. This enactment led to the establishment of the market committees at the following places, [Date of establishment of the market committee is given in bracket.] viz., (1) Akluj (10th March 1950), (2) Karmala (1st January 1943), (3) Barshi (11th June 1948), (4) Pandharpur (1st July 1947), (5) Sholapur (12th August 1959), (6) Sangola (1st December 1962), (7) Mangalwedha (19th May 1965), (8) Mohol (14th December 1954). (9) Kurduwadi (1st May 1950) and (10) Akkalkot (20th November 1952).

The Bombay Agricultural Produce Markets Act of 1939 has now been repealed with the enforcement of the unified Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1963. All the regulated markets established under the repealed Bombay Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1939, are deemed to be established under the new Act. Though this Act was passed in 1963, it was actually implemented in this district since 25th May 1967. On application of new statute all the agricultural produce market committees have adopted new rules.

All the eleven talukas in the district are served by regulated markets, the Sholapur market committee serving the South and North Sholapur talukas together. All the talukas are brought under the purview of Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1963.

According to the new Act, viz., Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1963, the prices of all the agricultural 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. This system was found to be defective as there was no chance of getting higher prices for better quality of commodities. To remove this defect a new system, viz., cart-wise auction of cotton was introduced. Under this system the produce is arranged in heaps or in bullock-carts near the adat shop 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 committees. 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 of the produce. The price of the sold produce is paid to the cultivator on the same day. The officials of the market committee supervise all these transactions. The bargaining is registered in the register of market committee.

The weighment of all agricultural commodities except cotton is completed on the market yard by the licensed weighmen. Weighment of cotton is however done at the ginning factories. The market committees issue licences to the weighmen. As soon as the weighment is completed the commission agents arrange for the payment to the cultivator-seller on the same day. The weighment and payment is supervised by the supervisory staff of the market committee. Prices are quoted in terms of rupees per quintal.

The market committees thus serve the agriculturists by giving them a just reward for their produce. Moreover they encourage the producers to bring pure and unadulterated produce which assure better prices.

The entire modus operandi of marketing is closely watched by the officials of the market committees. 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, traders, hamals, weighmen and processors are all licensed by the respective market committees. On payment of a prescribed fee they are issued licences. The market committees are instrumental in protecting the interests of the agriculturists.

Regarding the financial position of the market committees the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act of 1963 has prescribed the sources by which the market committees should earn income to meet their growing needs. Among others the major sources of income are market fee, licence fee, cattle fee, plot rent, etc. These rates are prescribed by the market committees. The Barshi, Pandharpur, Sholapur and Akluj market committees have a sound financial position. The financial position of all the market committees was as under in the year 1968-69:—

The market committees also secure loans from Government for construction work on a long-term basis. In certain cases they also receive Government subsidy. The amount of loans received by each market committee up to 1969 is given below:—

Out of ten agricultural produce market committees eight were granted Government loan for development of market yard. The Sangola and Mangalwedha market committees are new and have prepared the proposals to seek the Government assistance.

The total arrivals and value of agricultural commodities at all the market committees in 1972-73 are given below:—

Commodity-wise arrivals and value in all the market committees in 1972-73 are given below:—

Average wholesale prices of important commodities at various regulated markets during 1972-73 are given in Table No. 44.

The market committees undertake the work of dissemination of market news which is helpful to the agriculturists. The prices of agricultural commodities at Barshi, Sholapur, Pandharpur and Akluj are published in daily newspapers such as Sakal, Samachar and Sanchar. Besides, the Barshi Market Committee also publishes a fortnightly, viz., Bazarachi Watchal which furnishes the prices of important agricultural commodities. Everyday the prices of jowar and cotton are sent to the Government of India, New Delhi, by telegram, while prices of other important commodities are sent to the Marketing Research Officer, Bombay, by telegram for broadcast. Daily prices are also intimated to Pune Radio Station. The trend of prices of various commodities in important regulated markets in the district as well as in Maharashtra State are announced for information of the agriculturists before the auction takes place. This serves as a guide to the sellers as well as to the buyers of agricultural produce.

The supervision and control over regulated markets was done by the District Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies since the inception of the market committees in the district. But the work of supervision and control over regulated markets was entrusted to the Co-operation and Industries Officer of the Zilla Parishad since 1967.

Barshi: The Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Barshi was established on 11th June 1948. Barshi is the biggest and the most important market in the district. This market is commonly called a "Gateway of Marathwada" in the field of agricultural trade. A large amount of agricultural produce is brought for sale at this market. It is served by convenient means of transport and communications which attract agriculturists and traders from Marathwada region, and especially from Osmanabad, Bhir and Nanded districts. The Latur-Miraj narrow gauge line of South-Central Railway as well as many State highways serve the transport of merchandise.

The area of operation of the market committee extends over the entire Barshi taluka. The market committee is managed by the managing committee of fourteen elected representatives consisting of seven agriculturists, four traders and two local institutions and one Government nominee.

The important regulated commodities are ground-nut (shelled and unshelled), cotton (ginned and unginned), tur (red, white and gajar), mug (green, yellow, mongalai), udid, safflower, jowar (maldandi, dagadi, jogali), bajri, wheat, gram (garda, chafa), sesamum, linseed, turmeric (finger, gadde, kap), coriander, chillis (dry, red), gur, tamarind, ambadi, paddy, castor seed, niger seed, maize, fodder, vari, sava, hulaga and onions. Besides, the market committee has also regulated cattle trade consisting of cows, bullocks, she and he buffaloes, sheep and goats since 1964.

The market yard is one of the best in the State of Maharashtra, and covers an area of 42 acres and 18 gunthas. It is named after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru since 7th June 1964. The market has started three sub-market yards at Vairag, Yedashi and Tadavale. It has acquired 25 acres of land by spending Rs. 24,649 at Vairag, and five acres of land at Yedashi for sub-market yards. At Vairag the market committee has built an office building and has provided other amenities. The Barshi market committee has invested Rs. 9,63,271 by way of development expenditure on its principal and sub-market yards.

The total number of market functionaries licensed by the committee in the year 1968-69 is given below:?

At Barshi market sufficient storage facilities are available to store agricultural produce. There are 74 godowns built on the market yard. Of these, three godowns are owned by the Maharashtra State Warehousing Corporation, and the rest of them by private traders, co-operative marketing societies and banks. The storage capacity of these godowns is 3,000 tons. The storage rates of the Warehousing Corporation vary from 18 to 25 poise per bag per month while rates of the godowns owned by other institutions are lower.

Market finance is facilitated at this market by the banking organisations mentioned below:—

(1) State Bank of India,

(2) Central Bank of India,

(3) Barshi Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd.,

(4) Barshi Merchants' Co-operative Bank Ltd.,

(5) District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd.,

(6) Miraj State Bank,

(7) United Western Bank,

(8) Belgaum Bank Ltd., and

(9) Maharashtra Bank.

The Barshi Market is an assembling as well as distributing centre of all agricultural commodities. Besides local produce, agricultural produce from parts of Marathwada region is brought to Barshi by motor trucks and bullock-carts. Of the total assembled produce, 20 per cent is retained for local consumption and 80 per cent is exported to distant market centres. The following commodities are exported to the destinations mentioned against them:—

Ground-nut, tur, mug and udid are the main agricultural commodities which arrive at Barshi from Marathwada. The Barshi market authorities introduced the open auction system since 1962 and also the system of commercial grading of ground-nut, tur, mug, udid, etc.

The total turn-over of trade at this market between 1964-65 and 1968-69 and in 1972-73 is given below:—

The statistical information regarding the total annual turn-over of the regulated commodities for some years since 1961-62 to 1972-73 at Barshi is given in Tables Nos. 45 and 46. The income of the market committee by way of market fee and licence fee during the three years from 1966-67 to 1968-69 is given below:—

The financial position of the market committee during the same period is given below:—

There are many co-operative marketing societies functioning at Barshi which are licence-holders of the market committee. The prominent among them are:

(1) Barshi Taluka Co-operative Sale and Purchase Union,

(2) Barshi Vividh Karyakari Seva Society,

(3) Barshi Merchants' Association.

The market committee has introduced the marketing intelligence system for the benefit of the agriculturists as well as traders. According to this system ten important villages in Barshi taluka are selected wherein the market committee arranges to publicise prices and arrivals of various agricultural commodities at Barshi and other important markets in Maharashtra.

Sholapur: The Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Sholapur was established on 12th August 1959 but the actual functioning of the same was started from 17th April 1961. The Sholapur market is one of the biggest wholesale markets in Maharashtra State. It has manifold advantages as a commercial, centre in South Maharashtra. It is served by good railway and road transport facilities. The Bombay-Madras railway line of the South-Central Railway as well as the National and State highways have brought the city into close contact with distant trade centres in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madras and Mysore States. Also a considerable produce from Osmanabad district is brought to Sholapur for sale.

The area of operation of the market committee extends over two talukas, viz., South and North Sholapur. The market committee comprises fifteen elected representatives, of whom seven are agriculturists, four traders, two local representatives and two Government nominees.

The committee has regulated the following commodities:—groundnut (shelled and unshelled), linseed, tur, mug, udid, gram, jowar, wheat, bajri, rice, jod, chillis, gur, cotton, onions, bananas, betel-leaves, maize, mataki, turmeric, til, karale, dhane and cattle such as goats, sheep, she and he buffaloes, cows, bullocks and horses.

The market committee has sufficient land for its market yard. In 1967 it purchased 105 acres of land for a new market yard and invested Rs. 2 crores for development activities.

The number of each category of market functionaries in the year 1968-69 is given below:—

The market committee has introduced the commercial grading system since 1963 and has a unit of five graders.

The Maharashtra State Warehousing Corporation has built four godowns on the market yard, the storage capacity of each of them being 72,000 bags. The number of godowns owned by private traders is 74. The storage charges for private godowns vary from five to ten paise and those for the godowns owned by the Corporation vary from 22 to 28 paise per month per bag. A majority of the agriculturists, however, keep their agricultural produce in their houses.

There are a number of financial agencies such as branches of all the leading nationalised banks and co-operative banks which cater to the needs of market finance. The financial position of the market committee for five years from 1964-65 is given below:—

(Figures in rupees)

The co-operative marketing societies have contributed towards the development of Sholapur market. There are five marketing societies doing trade activities and five associations of traders holding the licences of the market committee. The names of the marketing societies and associations of traders at Sholapur are given below:—

(1) Oilseeds Dealers' Association,

(2) Adat Sangh,

(3) Gul Adat Vyapari Association,

(4) Kasturba Market Traders' Association,

(5) Laxmi Market Traders' Association,

(6) North Sholapur Sale and Purchase Union,

(7) South Sholapur Sale and Purchase Union,

(8) Umarga Taluka Kharedi-Vikri Sangh,

(9) Tuljapur Taluka Kharedi-Vikri Sangh, and

(10) Boramani Vividha Karyakari Seva Sahakari Society.

The market committee has arranged for publicity of market rates of important regulated commodities.

The trend of total arrivals and value of all commodities from 1964-65 to 1968-69 and in 1972-73 is given below:—

The statistical information regarding the total arrivals and value of regulated commodities and monthly turn-over of cattle trade is given in tables Nos. 47 and 48.

Pandharpur: This market committee was established on 1st July 1947, but actual working of market regulation was started from 1st January 1949. This is one of the four important market committees in the district. Pandharpur is also important because of the fact that the marketing operations at the surrounding markets are very much dependent upon the day-to-day operations in this market. Since the establishment of the market committee, Pandharpur has developed into a very big market of agricultural produce. The market-yard of Pandharpur is conveniently located as regards easy means of transport and communications. It is served by the Latur-Miraj narrow gauge line of the South-Central Railway, and many important State highways.

The area of operation of the market committee extends over the entire Pandharpur taluka with 84 villages. The market is managed by a managing committee of twelve elected representatives consisting of four agriculturists, three traders, two nominees of local authorities and two Government nominees.

The market committee has brought under its regulation almost all agricultural commodities such as (1) groundnut (peanut, bold, ghungari), (2) safflower, (3) tur (red, white and mixed), (4) gram (chafa, jada), (5) jowar (maldandi, 35-1, sowarna and hybrid), (6) bajri, (7) wheat (bansi, N146), (8) kulthi (hulaga), (9) math (mataki), (10) castor seed, (11) sesamum, (12) chillis (red), (13) gur, (14) paddy, (15) maize, (16) onions (white and red), (17) sann hemp and (18) cotton. Besides, the market committee has also regulated the trade of the following animals, viz., cows, bullocks, he and she buffaloes, horses, sheep and goats.

The market-yard has enough land admeasuring forty acres and 23 gunthas for its market-yard at Pandharpur which it purchased for Rs. 45,359. The market committee has opened two sub-market yards at Karkamb and Bhalawani. It spent about Rs. 3,45,602. for providing amenities for the agriculturists and traders.

The total number of market functionaries licensed by the committee is given below:—

At present there are 175 godowns owned by various agencies such as traders, general commission agents, banks and co-operative societies. The storage rates vary between six and ten paise per bag per month.

The following banks at Pandharpur provide banking facilities to the traders:—

(1) State Bank of India, (2) District Central Co-operative Bank, (3) District Industrial Co-operative Bank, (4) Miraj State Bank, (5) Bank of Baroda, (6) Merchants' Co-operative Bank, Pandharpur, and (7) Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Pandharpur.

About 30 per cent of the total produce is retained by the agriculturists, and about 70 per cent is brought for sale. The import and export of agricultural produce is done by motor transport as well as by railway. The transport charges per quintal from Pandharpur to various market centres are as under:—Bombay Rs. 4, Kolhapur Rs. 3, Sangli Rs. 2.50 and Satara Rs. 2.50. The market charges arc as under:—

The turn-over of trade at Pandharpur during 1964-65 to 1968-69 is shown below:—

The arrivals and value of various regulated commodities during the years 1960-61, 1962-63, 1965-66, 1968-69, 1970-71 and 1972-73 arc given in table No. 49, while the table No. 59 shows turn-over of cattle trade at Pandharpur market in the years 1960-61 and 1969-70.

The financial position of the committee is given below:—

The co-operative marketing societies have played an important role in the regulation of trade at this market. There are four such co-operative institutions at Pandharpur, the names of which are given below:—

(1) Pandharpur Taluka Sale and Purchase Union,

(2) Gadegaon Vividha Karyakari Seva Society,

(3) Patwardhan Kuroli Vividha Karyakari Seva Society, and

(4) Vyapari Committee, Pandharpur.

Akluj: The Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Akluj was established on 10th March 1950 but the actual working of the committee was started from 1st November 1951. The market is one of the big markets in the district. It is however handicapped by the lack of convenient means of transport and communications and is not served by any rail route.

The area of operation of the market committee extends over Malshiras taluka. The market is managed by a managing committee of fifteen representatives consisting of seven agriculturists, four traders, two local authorities and two Government nominees.

The market committee has regulated the following agricultural commodities, viz., gur, cotton (Laxmi, jarilla and nimkar), groundnut, safflower, tur, gram, jowar, wheat, bajri, maize, paddy and rice. The cattle trade consisting of sheep, goats, he and she buffaloes and horses is also regulated since January 1961.

The market committee has a principal market-yard at Akluj and a sub-market yard at Natepute. The principal market-yard has enough land admeasuring 35 acres, and the sub-market yard has fourteen acres of land. The sub-market yard was started from 7th October 1964. The market committee has spent Rs. 44,153 and Rs. 7,400 for purchasing land for the market-yards at Akluj and Natepute, respectively.

The total number of market functionaries, licence fee and the amount collected by way of licence fee are given in the following statement for the year 1968-69:—

The total arrivals and value of various regulated commodities at the market are given below:—

The arrivals and value of various regulated commodities during the years 1962-63, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1968-69, 1970-71 and 1972-73 are given in table No. 50.

Besides agricultural commodities, the market committee has regulated cattle trade also by starting weekly cattle markets at Akluj and Natepute. The turn-over of cattle trade during the six years from 1963-64 to 1968-69 is given in table No. 51.

The income of the market committee in the year 1968-69 was Rs. 2,27,352, of which Rs. 1,50,722 and Rs. 37,610 were from licence fee and market cess, respectively. The financial position of the market committee is given below:—

Karmala: The Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Karmala was established on 1st January 1948. The market has jurisdiction over 96 villages which are frequented by recurring famines and conditions of scarcity. Some villages from Karjat and Jamkhed talukas of Ahmadnagar district and some villages from Parenda and Ashti talukas of Osmanabad and Bhir districts get the benefit of this market. Hence though Karmala is in the famine area, there is a considerable turn-over of trade at this market.

The market committee comprises fifteen representatives, of whom seven are agriculturists, four traders, one nominee of local authorities and three Government nominees.

The market committee has brought under regulation the following commodities:—jowar, bajri, wheat, maize, ground-nut (shelled and unshelled), safflower, sesamum, linseed, chillis, cotton, mug, math, hulaga, gram, udid, tur, gur and cattle such as sheep, goats, bullocks, cows, and he and she buffaloes.

The market yard admeasures 33 acres of land where all the necessary amenities including a spacious office building, a rest-house, platforms, sheds, etc., are available. The market committee has a sub-market at Jeur which also provides some of the necessary amenities. The committee proposes to start two additional sub-market yards at Kem and Pomalwadi.

Though the market is situated in the famine-stricken area, about 70 per cent of the assembled produce is exported outside the Karmala taluka after meeting the local demand. The direction of export trade is as under:—

The trend of turn-over of trade in regard to regulated commodities is given below:—

The income, expenditure and the amount of surplus during 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69 are given below:—

The Karmala Taluka Co-operative Agricultural Sale and Purchase Union is the sole licence-holding co-operative marketing society on the market-yard. The society is a sub-agent of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Federation, Bombay, for procurement of jowar under the monopoly procurement scheme. There are four sub-centres of this union in the taluka.

The total arrivals and value of various regulated commodities at Karmala market are given in table No. 52

Mohol: The Mohol Agricultural Produce Market Committee was established on 14th December 1954, but its actual functioning started from 1st January 1956. The area of operation of the market committee extends over 89 villages in the whole of Mohol taluka. However, this market has not much scope for its development as a large quantity of agricultural produce is diverted to other markets.

The market committee is managed by the managing committee of fifteen representatives representing traders, agriculturists, local bodies and the Government.

The important commodities regulated by this market committee are jowar, bajri, wheat, maize, gram, tur, mug, safflower, gur, onions, chillis, groundnut and cotton. Besides, the committee has brought cattle trade under its regulation since 1968.

The area of the market-yard measures ten acres and 20 gunthas. The market committee does not provide storage facility to agriculturists. A few traders possess godowns of their own.

The functionaries working on the market-yard are as under:—

Dalals—10, adatyas—11, weighmen—3, hamals—50 and traders—30.

The income and expenditure of the market committee during the period from 1966-67 to 1968-69 is given below:—

The total arrivals and value of various regulated commodities is given below:—

The commodity-wise turn-over of all regulated commodities and turn-over at Mohol market axe given in table No. 53.

Kurduwadi: The Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Kurdu-wadi was established on 1st May 1950. The market is served by convenient means of transport and communications. The Bombay-Pune-Madras railway line and the Latur-Miraj narrow-gauge line of the South-Central Railway as well as the Bombay-Sholapur-Hyderabad national highway arc the important trade routes passing through Kurdu-wadi. These routes have facilitated through communication with distant trade centres such as Bombay, Pune, Madras, Latur and Miraj.

The area of operation of the market extends over the entire Madha taluka. The market committee has opened three sub-yards at Madha, Modnimb and Tembhurni. The market is managed by the managing committee of fifteen representatives consisting of seven agriculturists, four traders, two nominees of local authorities and two Government nominees.

The market committee has regulated the following commodities:— cotton (ginned and unginned), groundnut (shelled and unshelled), wheat, jowar, chillis, gram, tur, safflower, mug, gur, maize, math, hulaga, linseed, sesamum, bajri, and cattle including bullocks, cows, buffaloes, horses, sheep and goats. There are weekly cattle markets at Tembhurni, Modnimb and Kurduwadi.

The market-yard is quite spacious and covers an area of 23 acres and 12 gunthas.

About 80 per cent of the total agricultural produce is brought for sale in the market and 20 per cent is consumed locally. Jowar is the main crop in this area, the open sale of which is banned under the monopoly procurement scheme. The other agricultural produce is exported to Bombay, Madras, Aurangabad, Pune and Gujarat State.

Storage facilities are available at this market-yard. The Maharashtra State Warehousing Corporation has constructed separate godowns at Kurduwadi and Modnimb where jowar collected under monopoly procurement scheme is stored besides the usual agricultural produce. Besides private traders, co-operative societies have also provided godowns wherein the goods of the agriculturists are stored. The daily attendance of the agriculturists at Kurduwadi market ranges from 300 to 400.

The income of the market committee was Rs. 75,640 during the year 1968-69, of which Rs. 58,168 and Rs. 9,890 accrued from market cess and licence fee, respectively. Expenditure during the same year amounted to Rs. 43,100.52, leaving a balance of Rs. 32,540.

The trend of the turn-over of trade in various regulated commodities during 1964-65 to 1968-69 is given below:—

The total turn-over of regulated commodities and the turn-over of regulated cattle at Kurduwadi market are given in tables Nos. 54 and 55.

Mangalwedha: The Mangalwedha Market Committee was established on 19th May 1965 at Mangalwedha. Till that date there was a sub-market yard at Mangalwedha under the charge of the Pandharpur market committee. Besides Pandharpur, the market has trade links with the markets in Sangli and Bijapur districts. Since its establishment the committee has maintained steady development in regard to the regulation of agricultural commodities.

The area of operations of the market committee extends over the entire Mangalwedha taluka. The market committee comprises fifteen representatives, of whom seven are agriculturists, four traders, one nominee of local authorities and three Government nominees.

The market committee has brought under its regulation the following commodities, viz., groundnut (shelled and unshelled), safflower, tur, gram, jowar, bajri, wheat, hulaga, mataki, castor seed, sesamum, gur, cotton, chillis and maize.

The number of market functionaries in the market is given below:—

The total income during the year 1968-69 amounted to Rs. 23,550, of which Rs. 12,710 and Rs. 7,585 were from market cess and licence fee, respectively, whereas the expenditure during the same year was Rs. 17,216.

The trend of turn-over of trade in regard to arrivals and value of various regulated agricultural commodities is given below:—

The turn-over of various regulated agricultural commodities and cattle trade is given in tables Nos. 60 and 56.

Sangola: The Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Sangola was started on 1st December 1962. Sangola is situated within the chronic famine belt. This factor has reduced its importance as a centre of trade in agricultural commodities. It is, however, one of the biggest cattle markets in Maharashtra, and is very famous for the trading of bullocks of the. khilar breed. The Latur-Miraj narrow gauge line of the South-Central Railway serves the transport needs of this market.

The area of operation of the market committee extends over the entire Sangola taluka. The market committee is managed by a managing committee of fifteen nominated members. The committee was initially formed in 1962.

The market committee has regulated the trade in agricultural commodities as also cattle trade. The regulated commodities are ground-nut (shelled and unshelled), safflower, tur, jowar, bajri, hulaga, matki, wheat, chillis. gur, castor seed, sesamum, cotton (ginned and unginned), gram, paddy, maize, sannhemp, onion, and cattle such as cows, goats, bullocks, buffaloes and sheep.

The market committee has purchased land admeasuring 42 acres where the market-yard is located.

About 70 per cent of the total produce is retained by the agriculturists, while only 30 per cent is handled at the market-yard. The destination of exports and the transport charges from Sangola to various places by motor-truck are as under:—Bombay—Rs. 4.60, Kolhapur—Rs. 2.40, Sangli—Rs. 1.90 and Satara—Rs. 2.25 per quintal.

The number of licensed market functionaries at Sangola market is given below:—

Sufficient storage facilities are available at this market. The Maharashtra Warehousing Corporation has also built a godown at Sangola. Besides, the various banks, co-operative societies, individual traders and general commission agents have also built godowns of their own. There are in all 65 godowns at Sangola owned by various agencies. The storage rates vary from six to ten paise per bag per month for the godowns owned by private agencies.

The income of the market committee amounted to Rs. 67,408, of which an amount of Rs. 52,737 and of Rs. 9,800 was from market cess and licence fee, respectively in 1968-69. The expenditure incurred in the same year was Rs. 48,805, thus keeping a surplus of Rs. 8,603. The trend of turn-over of trade was more or less steady during the period from 1964-65 to 1968-69 which can be seen from the following figures:—

The commodity-wise total arrivals of various regulated commodities and their value and the turn-over of cattle are given in tables Nos. 57 and 58.

Akkalkot: The Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Akkalkot was established on 20th November 1952. The area of operation of the market committee extends over the entire Akkalkot taluka. The convenient transport facilities have helped development of the market.

The market committee is managed by the executive committee of fifteen representatives, of whom seven are agriculturists, four traders, and two each local authorities and Government nominees.

The following commodities have been regulated by this market committee:—groundnut (shelled and unshelled), tur, mug, udid, karadi, gur, chillis, jowar, wheat, bajri, gram, linseed, cotton, rice, onions, tamarind, rata, ambadi and cattle such as bullocks, cows, she-buffaloes, sheep, goats and horses.

The market committee possesses its own market-yard which provides all the necessary facilities. The market committee has recently opened a sub-market yard at Dudhavi.

There were in all 261 market functionaries in 1968-69, of whom 70 were adatyas, 20 weighmen, 68 hamals, one warehouseman and 102 traders. There are adequate storage facilities at this market-yard. The Maharashtra Warehousing Corporation has built warehouses where agricultural produce is stored at nominal rates. Besides, the traders have also built their own godowns. The grading system is also introduced in respect of the trade in groundnut.

The total income of the market committee amounted to Rs. 72,120, of which Rs. 45,100 and Rs. 12,858 accrued from market cess and licence fee, respectively in the year 1968-69.

The Akkalkot Wholesale Merchants' Association and the Akkalkot Taluka Kharedi Vikri Sangh Limited, play an important role on this market yard.

The arrivals and value of various regulated commodities at Akkalkot market during 1968-69, 1970-71 and 1972-73 are given in table No. 61.

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