Research on Traditional Markets and Traders in Indian Subcontinent

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The main research work was conducted in Sandila Tahsil, Hardoi District, Uttar Pradesh State, North India. The main findings are as follows ;1. In the study area there are one daily market (in Sandila Town) and many periodic markets and fairs. Only the daily market have wholesale function as well as retail one. At the periodic markets local products and services are exchanged and imported goods are retailed. However balking and exporting functions of the markets are limited. The fairs are held once or twice a year, continue for several days and supply luxury goods, agricultural implements, livestocks etc.2. The periodic markets are held at some open ground in or near village or on the main street in village. The market places are owned by private persons or local government and usually managed by agents of the owners or some public bodies. Small amount of market fees are collected by contractors from sellers at larger markets. The facilities of the markets, however, are very poor.3. Market economy has not developed well in the villages of the study area. Production of commercial crops is limited, and most of handwoven products are assembled through other channel than the markets. Moreover even now the traditional reciprocal gift keeps important role in the economic exchange system in the rural area. Consequently the degree of market attendance of the villagers is low and the scale of the markets is small here compared with the our previous study area in the Indian Subcontinent.