ENG-1956 — Page 133

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