Maharashtra traders oppose direct selling of vegetables

PUNE: Traders and labourers at Maharashtra’s agriculture produce marketing committees (APMCs) have decided to shut down the markets in Mumbai and Pune on January 8 to protest against the state government’s efforts to keep fruits and vegetables out of APMC markets. After the Congress’ defeat in the recent Delhi state elections, party vice president Rahul Gandhi has been pressing states ruled by the party to bring down the prices of fruits and vegetables by delisting them from APMC acts.

Runaway inflation in the prices of essential commodities like onions and tomatoes was one of the main reasons for the defeat. Gandhi directed Congress-ruled states to control the prices during a meeting with party’s chief ministers last week. When farmers sell their produce at the APMC, middlemen’s commission , labour charge, market cess and other taxes are added to the price.

States have been directed to invoke the Essential Commodities Maintenance Act to deal with hoarding, black marketing and profiteering to initiate reforms in the public distribution system. Maharashtra, one of the important Congress-ruled states and forerunner in the implementation of agricultural marketing reforms, decided last year to delist fruits and vegetables from APMC acts.

However, it could not succeed due to fierce opposition of APMCs, which are the strongholds of state politicians and middlemen. Although Maharashtra has allowed direct marketing of fruits and vegetables by farmers, this move too has faced opposition from middlemen.

Sanjay Pansare, director of the fruits market in the Vashi APMC, said, “We are not opposing direct sale by farmers or their groups. But we do oppose delisting of fruits and vegetables from the APMC Act. We all were doing business in Mumbai. However the state government forced us out from there and brought us to Navi Mumbai in 1996. Our market is dependent on Mumbai .”

Pansare questioned the assumption that delisting of fruits and vegetables will help reduce inflation. “Retailers, and not wholesalers , who are responsible for the price rise,” he said.

Vashi market is one of the biggest markets for the trading of fresh agricultural produce in the country, dealing with 500 trucks of vegetables and 300 trucks of fruits every day.