The Gazetteers Department

Cotton is by far the most important item of export from Yeotmal district. Ever since the distant past, the district is well known for its rich cotton trade and ranks next in importance to Amravati in this respect. The varieties of cotton produced and exported from this district are L/147, AK 235 and 277 which are noted to be long staple varieties. The L/147 variety which has a fibre length of about 31"/ 32" yields the silky textured yarn.

The principal centres of cotton trade are Yeotmal, Wani, Pusad, Pandharkawda, Digras, Darwha, Ghatanji and Umarkhed, all of which are regulated markets. Raw cotton is assembled in the market yards from distant villages in the district. A considerable amount of cotton was brought to Pandharkawda from Andhra Pradesh villages, and to Pusad from villages in Nanded and Parbhani districts in the past. But these conditions do not exist since the last few years. A considerable volume of cotton is locally purchased by traders from villages which are outside the jurisdiction of the regulated markets. The cotton produce is sold as per the practices governed by the regulated markets. The purchasers get it ginned and pressed in local mills.

The exporters in the district send the bales of cotton to the proper markets for selling them to the textile mills. The purchasers from textile mills also make direct purchases from the markets in this district. The principal destinations of cotton exports are Bombay and Ahmedabad, while the other export markets are Madras, Calcutta, Coimbtore, Nagpur, Indore and Kanpur. It is estimated that about 2,43,000 bales are exported every year from this district. All the cotton is exported, as there is no local consumption.

The transactions are mainly on a cash basis, though forward transactions are not absent. However, there are no speculative activities in this district. The prices of cotton fluctuate in conformity with the fluctuations at Bombay. The traders get the price quotations at Bombay either on radio or telephone. There are Government regulations, pertaining to inter-district and interregional movement of cotton. These regulations sometimes result in undue slump in prices and slump in demand also [Regulations under monopoly purchase of cotton by Govt. have been removed since Jan. 1974, with the result that free trade in cotton is allowed.].

Cotton bales upto Bombay and Ahmedabad are transported either by road or railway, while they are sent to other destinations by railway alone.

Cotton Seed.

The production of cotton-seed in the district is estimated to be about 1,28,000 quintals per annum. Cotton-seed was used formerly as a cattle-feed, and hence, it did not fetch a good price. However, since the compulsion by Government for the use of cotton-seed oil in Vanaspati products, there is heavy demand for cotton-seed oil. The oil fetches over Rs. 300 per quintal. This has been instrumental in increasing the price of cotton as well as cotton-seed. Cotton-seed is crushed in the local oil mills and the oil is exported to Bombay, Akola, Nagpur, Amalner, Dalmianagar and other centres of the vegetable oil industry. The quantity of cotton-seed oil manufactured in the district amounts to over 15,000 quintals per year. The percentage of oil in the seed is 14, the rest being cake. The annual production of oilcake in the district is estimated to be about 85,000. Oilcake is used as a cattle-feed and fetches about Rs. 40 per quintal.

Foodgrains.

Yeotmal is a surplus district in respect of almost all foodgrains except rice. After meeting the needs of local consumption, a considerable quantity of tur dal, udid, jowar, mug and bajri is exported from the district. However, since the introduction of the system of monopoly procurement jowar has ceased to be an item of export. Tur dal is the most important article of trade among the foodgrains.

The important centres of wholesale trade in foodgrains are Yeotmal, Wani, Pusad, Pandharkawda, Digras, Darwha, Ghatanji and Umarkhed, all of which are regulated markets. The agriculturists bring their produce to these markets and sell it as per the provisions of the market rules. [For details refer to section on Regulated Markets in this Chapter.] The traders who purchase the commodities export them to the destined markets. Purchasers from distant markets in the State as well as from outside the State come to this district to make the purchases.

Tur dal is exported mainly to Bombay, Madras and markets in Gujarat. From Wani market alone, about 50,000 quintals of tur dal is exported every year. Udid is sent to Madras, Calcutta and Bombay, while mug is exported to Bombay, Calcutta, Indore and Madras. Bajri is sent to Nagpur, Chandrapur and Akola whereas wheat is consumed locally and is exported in very small quantity.

The merchandise is sent by road to Dhamangaon, Badnera and Warora from where it is transported by railways to the destinations. It is transported by road to distant markets also. It may be noted here that there are Government regulations regarding inter-district and inter-State movement of some of the foodgrains. The trade is brisk from November to February.

Other Exports.

The other commodities exported from Yeotmal district are sesamum, linseed, groundnut oil and forest produce. Sesamum is a very important oil-seed crop in the district and accounts for a big share in the export trade. It is exported to Bombay, Madras, Madurai, Gujarat and Nagpur. From Wani market alone, about 6,000 quintals of sesamum is exported every year. Linseed is sent to Nagpur, Warora and Akola. Groundnut oil is exported mainly to Akola, Nagpur, Amravati and Bombay. Groundnut is crushed in the local oil mills, and the oil is sent in big drums. Groundnut oil-cake is used as a cattle feed or as a manure.

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