BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

EXPORTS

Cotton.

Cotton is a very important item of wholesale trade in Wardha district. [For details refer to the account of the regulated market at Hinganghat given in this chapter.] The Hinganghat cotton Commanded a very good reputation not only in the Vidarbha region but also in the textile centres in India and Great Britain. Purchasers from various parts of India as well as from Great Britain and Japan used to come to Hinganghat. However, after 1930, the importance of the Hinganghat market was slightly reduced due to the newly established markets in the district as well as in the neighbouring districts, and also because of the fact that the cotton markets at Wardha and Arvi in the district came to attract a considerable volume of cotton produce. The annual volume of arrivals and prices of cotton from 1939-40 to 1960-61 are furnished below:—

The corresponding statistics for the other markets in the district are not available.

The varieties of cotton grown and traded in the district are (a) L-147, (b) 1007, (c) AK-235 and (d) 197/3. Of these, the first two are long staple varieties while the last two are medium staple varieties. The 1007 is, however, the most superior variety in the district. Of the total cotton trade at Wardha market L-147 variety accounts for about 50 per cent, of the turnover, 1007 variety for about 20 per cent, while AK-235 and J97/3 together account for 30 per cent, of the total turnover.

In the Wardha market the price of cotton is declared by the traders by carrying out auction of the concerned variety of cotton. The price arrived at is declared as the market rate, for the particular variety, for the day. This rate which is popularly known as pati bhav is regarded as standard of fair average quality price of cotton. The cotton produce in each cart is sold by open agreement between the seller and the buyer (or his agent). The price in the open agreement is based upon the standard price (pati bhav). The open agreement is done cartwise. The price of cotton in each depends upon the variety and quality of cotton in the cart. Weighing is done in the ginning factory yard.

There are about 14 wholesale purchasers of cotton in Wardha market, 20 in Arvi, seven in Hinganghat, ten in Pulgaon and two in Sindi market [The number of purchasers in the various markets is given as per the findings of the survey conducted in 1966.] There are 13 ginning and pressing factories in the district of which three are at Wardha, seven at Arvi and three at Hinganghat. The ginning charge for cotton is Rs. 10.75 per quintal, while the pressing charge is Rs. 15 per bale.

There are two cotton textile mills at Hinganghat and one mill at Pulgaon. These mills consume only a part of the cotton produce of the district. After ginning and pressing, the cotton bales are exported to Bombay, Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Madras, Nagpur and other centres of the textile industry in the country.

The cotton bales are transported to the above centres mainly by railways and also by motor trucks. The freight charges per cotton bale are about Rs. 10 to Bombay, Rs. 16 to Ahmedabad, Rs. 17 to Kanpur and Rs. 28 to Calcutta.

Foodgrains.

Foodgrains taken together account for a major proportion of the agricultural produce in the district. This group of agricultural produce also forms a large proportion of the wholesale trade and export trade of the district. The foodgrains of commercial importance are jowar, tur, mug, ndid, wheat and bajri. Jowar and tur are, however the most important from the point of turnover.

Private trade transactions in jowar and rice are, however, banned since the introduction of the monopoly procurement of these commodities by the State Government in 1964. Under the Maharashtra Scheduled Foodgrains (Stock Declaration and Procurement, and Disposal, Acquisition, Transport and Price Control) Order, the trade and transport of jowar and rice is banned. The Government purchases the produce, from the producers and distributes the same through fair price shops. [Refer to the section on State Trading and Fair Price Shops in this Chapter.]

Tur dal is exported mainly from Wardha, Arvi, Hinganghat, Pulgaon, Sindi, Karanja and Deoli to distant markets, such as Bombay, Madras, Nagpur, as also other markets in Western Maharashtra and Upper* India. Wheat is sent mainly to Nagpur. Mug is exported in large quantities to Bombay and markets in West Bengal. Gram goes mainly to Nagpur.

Hinganghat is by far the most important market for the trade in food-grains. Hinganghat is followed by Arvi, Wardha, Pulgaon and Sindi as grain markets. Railway transport facilities are available from all these centres. The bulk of the merchandise is transported by railways, excepting Arvi from where a large volume of goods is transported in motor trucks.

Other Exports.

The other exports from Wardha district are cotton seed, sesamum and groundnut oil which are exported mainly to Bombay, Bhusawal, Nagpur and Madras, Cotton seed has become an important item of export trade since the rise of the vegetable oil industry in India. The cotton seed oil is regarded as a very valuable nutrient, rich in proteins and vitamins. It is highly demanded by the vegetable oil industry.

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