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their uncertain earnings from land. These village dalals
purchase corn, say, at Rs. 29 and sell it in the Bulsar mar-
ket within a day or two, or even later, when the price
shows a favourable rise. It is interesting to note that, in
the year of enquiry, we noticed a case where one of these
temporary brokers had made a forward contract with a
Chhipa merchant of Bulsar, undertaking to supply him
with a fixed amount of paddy before a particular date at
the price ruling on the day, when the verbal contract was
made. If properly organized, this instance augurs well
for the marketing of their produce by the farmers
themselves.
The difference between the producer's and the consum-
er's prices : We have so far given a brief description of
marketing paddy. But the act of marketing cannot be
said to be complete till the commodity is delivered to the
consumer. Paddy is not the commodity that the average
consumer of Bulsar purchases. He buys rice which is
the result of husking paddy. The average rate at which
Kada-rice was sold, during the year of enquiry, was about
Rs. 3 per maund. From the account given above, the
actual value realised by the producer, after paying neces-
sary deductions, comes to Rs. 1-7-9 or about Rs. i-| per
maund. Obviously there is a hundred per cent, difference
between the two prices. This is partly due to the fact
that the producer sells paddy (or rice in an unhusked or
raw form) while the consumer purchases cleaned rice ready
for cookuig; and partly due to the deductions we have
enumerated above, which the farmer has to meet, as well
as the profit of the middleman.
Suggestions. It will be interesting indeed to ascertain
whether the farmer will gain anything by selling rice
instead of paddy.
(a) If he hulls his paddy at home, which an average
farmer who has little occupation in the off season can do,
he will gain to the extent of Rs. 13 per hara as shown
below.