Shetkari Sanghatna wants APMCs to be dissolved

The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna (SSS) has demanded dissolution of Agriculture Produce Market Committees and a CBI inquiry against the traders responsible for the current impasse in the onion markets. Three APMC markets in Nashik opened Tuesday for onion trading but could not collectively transact more than 2,000 quintals.

The markets were closed for the last 20 days with traders demanding that onion be brought to them packaged in sacks. Packaged onions are traded in Ahmednagar, Solapur and Pune districts, but the farmers there get higher rates. Nashik farmers used to open auctions do not want the additional expense of packaging the onions in sacks as the rates they get do not cover this cost.

SSS district president Govind Pagar said, “The Government should dissolve the APMCs and nominate the collector or an administrator. If the APMCs and traders do not resolve the issue within eight days, we will go to CM’s residence and dump onions,” he warned.

Lasalgaon APMC director Rajendra Dokhale said the issue was political and said the SSS did not understand the farmers’ issues.In Lasalgaon APMC, 2,120 sacks or 1,060 quintals were traded at rates of minimum Rs 300 to Rs 952 per quintal and at an average of Rs 844. In Niphad APMC, only 35 sacks or 17.5 quintals were traded while in Pimpalgaon Baswant APMC 1,640 sacks or 820 quintals were traded.