No. 31.— 1885.] RICE CULTIVATION. 170* 



year is considered sufficient to cover all adverse contin- 

 gencies. 



I have purposely worked out my figures so far in days' 

 labour and grain, in keeping with native modes of estimating 

 agricultural outlay. In addressing a European audience 

 it is necessary to attach money equivalents to these results, 

 based on the value of labour in each locality. 



In South Batticaloa the ordinary rate of pay on the 

 cocoanut estates is 18 cents per diem, and the hire of an 

 agricultural labourer is a marakal of paddy per diem, which 

 generally changes hands at about the same rate. The road 

 commutation tax in both Batticaloa and Matara is Rs, 1'50 

 in lieu of six days' labour. In neither District is there any 

 special demand for labour, except for paddy cultivation. 

 Twenty-five cents a day is therefore an exceptional wage, 

 and a very outside value of time in the local labour market 

 of both Districts. 



In my opinion, the most unfavourable view that can be 

 taken of the situation is that paddy can be grown in Ceylon 

 for 37^ cents a bushel, and that it is probable a large pro- 

 portion is raised at a cost of 25 cents (sixpence) a bushel; 

 while it can be sold nearly everywhere for at least a rupee, 

 leaving a profit of 75 cents per bushel to meet interest on 

 capital invested, &c. 



Turning to India again for a moment, I find that the 

 average selling price of paddy in the Madras Presidency has 

 been 94 cents per bushel during 1881 and 1882, against 

 96 cents for the three years previous to the famine. To this, 

 on grain coming to Ceylon, has to be added Customs duties 

 amounting on both sides to 26 cents per bushel, besides 

 freight and other charges. So that it is not surprising the 

 price of paddy is generally Rs. 1-50 in the Jaffna market, 

 where alone Indian grain comes into competition with the 

 surplus production of the Batticaloa District, and that surplus 

 comes burthened with charges for transport of over 50 per 

 cent, on the cost of production. In the Colombo bazaar 

 Indian paddy generally sells at Rs. 1-37J per bushel, and 

 the Customs valuation for statistical purposes has for some 

 years been Rs. 1*50. 



This brings me to the consideration of the cost of bring- 

 ing Ceylon paddy to market. In Matara not nearly enough 

 4—85. b * 



