Farmers across the state can now either sell their produce at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) or sell directly to buyers like malls and private retailers.
Farmers across the state can now either sell their produce at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) or sell directly to buyers like malls and private retailers.
The state Cabinet had taken a decision on Tuesday to open the market for farmers to get them a good price and ensure that consumers get fruits and vegetables at cheaper rates.
Minister for cooperation and marketing, Chandrakant Patil stated that sale of produce by farmers to malls and private retailers has been deregulated and brought out of the sole jurisdiction of the APMC.
Mr Patil said that the government decided on approving the proposal so as to enable the farmers and APMCs to take part in the Central government project “e-Mandi” wherein buyers can buy and farmers can sell their produce online. Mr Patil stated that the decision was aimed at ensuring maximum profit to the farmer, who can now fix his the price at which he wants to sell to the purchaser.
The minister further said that six months ago the government had sent the list of 30 APMCs to the Centre to be empanelled in the e-Mandi scheme. However, since the government had not amended the law, the centre rejected the state government’s list two months ago. Mr Patil added that the previous Congress regime in 2010 had tried to deregulate the sale and purchase of fruits and vegetables in the open market following protests from the traders and mathadis (head loader) at the APMC.
Mr Patil clarified that the government was not going to dismantle the APMC system. He added that a Cabinet sub-committee under his chairmanship had been set up to sort out issues and clarify doubts that the traders and mathadi labour unions at the APMC have in connection with the government proposal. He said that the cabinet sub-committee would be empowered to take the final decision, which will not require the ratification of the Cabinet. Mr Patil stated that the government would issue an ordinance before the monsoon session of the state legislature on July 18. During the ensuing monsoon session the government will move a bill seeking to amend the relevant Acts.
