Fruits, veggies dearer as APMC tussles with state

Mumbaikars will be facing a steep rise in prices of vegetables, fruits and other perishable items as traders of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) refused to end their strike on Monday. Mumbai gets its supply of vegetables from the APMC market at Vashi, which is also closed due to strike.

The traders, calling the latest government ruling of de-listing fruits and vegetables from the market and amendment in the commission system a “thoughtless” move, have asked for free trade conditions. De-listing of fruits and vegetables means that farmers will have the freedom to sell them in the open market without going to APMC markets.

The government has also refused to soften its stand and said that the traders may lose their licences if they continue with the strike. On the other hand, the APMC has decided to challenge the government’s decision in the Bombay high court.

The state agriculture, dairy development, animal husbandry and fisheries department, in a move to ensure the welfare of the farmers and market reforms, recently de-listed perishable items like food and vegetables from the APMC Market Act. The notification, released through a Government Resolution, also introduced a new commission system, where the end user of the product will have to pay the commissions instead of the current practice where farmers pay the amount.

Though the government officials introduced a number of other facilities, including digital linking of markets across the nation and allowing the traders to trade pan-India, depending on the digital rate boards made available at the markets, the move has met with strong opposition by the trader associations.

Ashok Walunj, director of the onion-potato market of APMC, pointed out that though they too are in favour of decisions being taken for the benefit of farmers, the step to de-list vegetables and fruits is oppressive. “At one end the government is talking about opening the markets and on the other all the rules are only applicable to us. According to the government notification, there will be no surcharge or restriction of farmers or traders from other markets coming here and dealing, but we will have to follow APMC regulations.

All we demand is similar treatment for all. If the outsiders are allowed to trade freely, we should get similar benefits,” said Mr Walunj.

APMC’s state level body has decided to contest the state government's ‘Open Market’ decision in the Bombay high court. Members of the Maharashtra State Market Committees’ Cooperative Federation Ltd (MSMCCFL) met in Pune on Monday to discuss the issue. About 500 representatives from all APMCs in Maharashtra, including traders, coolies and others attended the meeting.

MSMCCFL chairman Diliprao Mohite-Patil told The Asian Age that, they appealed the government to rescind its order on the commission issue.

“A delegation of our representatives led by former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar will meet the cooperatives minister and chief minister within two days and appeal to them to take an empathic view of the situation. We will, however, file a writ in the HC tomorrow,” Mr Mohite-Patil said.

The APMC strike began on Saturday in 305 APMCs in Maharashtra. Majority of the APMCs are ruled by NCP and Congress leaders.