ENG-1957 — Page 150

PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

125

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

1953

1954

Piculs

Tons

Value ($)

846,739 50,401

15,565,307

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

1957

.....

1,193,662

71,051 21,719,517

Imported

1953

247,359 14,724 4,297,299

1954

193,479 11,517

4,266,494

1955

105,656 6,289

2,164,460

1956

122,363 7,284

1,685,920

مجھ

1957

134,098

7,982

1,925,268

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 fertilizer. The Organization is now operating a scheme for the maturation and distribution of nightsoil to farmers at a very low price.

Cheap credit facilities for the improvement and encourage- ment of agriculture under the control of the Director of Marketing are available from two sources: the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund and the Vegetable Marketing Organization Loan Fund. Since the establishment of the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund in July 1954, farmers have received 4,573 loans total- ling $3,274,192.22, whilst 404 further loans totalling $1,374,672.00 have similarly been made from the Vegetable Marketing Organization's fund.

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