Vegetable prices may soar-up more
Nagpur: The indefinite strike called by adtiya assocations in 305 agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) across Maharashtra ended on the first day itself following an assurance by the minister of State for agriculture and marketing, Sadabhau Khot to bring in a uniform legislation for the farmers and adtiyas.
The end to the strike would regularise the functioning of all five markets at Kalamna APMC from Thursday onwards.
They have come to this decision to oppose the recent notification of latest government ruling of de-listing fruits and vegetables from the market and amendment in the commission system from the Agriculture Produce Market Committee and have termed it as anti-farmers. They claim that all the Associations have supported this Bandh. Various Mazdoor Sanghs (Labour Unions) too have lent support to this bandh.
Middleman dealing in Onion-Potato Afzal Bhai said that the kind of services and facilities which the Middlemen provide the farmers cannot be provided by the government. Therefore the Government should reconsider this new notification.
The traders and middlemen who have called the latest government ruling of de-listing fruits and vegetables from the market and amendment in the commission system a “thoughtless” move and an anti-farmer rule. They are demanding for a 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 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.
Doubled prices, increase in buyers crowd
Keeping in mind the indefinite strike, there was a heavy rush in the Kalamna Bazaar on Monday and Tuesday. The rate of vegetable and fruits and other goods were skyrocketing. Almost all these goods were sold in nearly double the selling price. The effect of this strike could be palpable in the retail market as well from Tuesday itself. The cost of vegetables too saw a significant hike.
Other Bazaars to remain open
The Kalamna Bazaar will observe strike only from Wednesday i.e. July 13, 2016, while other bazaars will remain open as usual.
The Secretary of Mahatma Phule Sabji Bazaar Association Ram Mahajan said that Mahatma Phule Sabji Bazaar will not be held in the Krishi Utpanna Bazaar Samiti Yard. Therefore this market will remain open as usual. The farmers are free to bring their farm produce directly to this market. Many farmers have already contacted the Mahatma Phule Sabji Bazaar Association. They wanted to come to this market to sell their farm produce.
However, Secretary of Mahatma Phule Sabji Bazaar Association Ram Mahajan claimed that this decision of the Government to be pro-farmer.
