PRODUCTION
103
Marketing Organization is by negotiation and not by auction, and in the degree of practical assistance provided by co- operative marketing societies, which are responsible for han- dling approx. 65% of the total local production of vegetables. The reasons for negotiated sales, as opposed to an auction system, are not difficult to find on an average, approximately 12,000 separate lots are sold daily to some 2,500 buyers. The number of lots rises to over 20,000 a day in the main season, making sales by auction impracticable.
The Organization is self-supporting and the costs of the various services are met from a 10% commission charged on sales. 30% of this commission is refunded to co-operative marketing societies in respect of the vegetables for which they are responsible.
The weights and values of vegetables marketed through the Organization over the last five years are as follows :
Locally-Produced
Piculs
Tons
Value ($)
1952
773,517 46,043
13,326,294
1953
846,739 50,401 15,565,307
1954
1,019,692 60,696
18,259,193
1955
1,117,629, 66,526
19,939,762
1956
1,293,354 76,985
21,589,103
Imported
1952
202,786
12,071 3,755,809
1953
247,359 14,724
4,297,299
1954
193,479 11,517
4,266,494
1955
1956
122,363
105,656 6,289 2,164,460
7,284 1,685,920
As is the case with the Fish Marketing Organization, it is intended that any financial surpluses should be ploughed back into the industry in the form of improved services and other benefits. An instance of this policy is the aid which the Organization has given to local farmers in overcoming their main problem of recent years-the lack of cheap fer- tilizer. The Organization is now operating a scheme for the