Maha deregulates APMCs

Pune: The State government has passed an ordinance of deregulating the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC) giving freedom to the farmers to sell their produce along with livestock outside APMC’s markets.

The government made amendments to the Maharashtra Agriculture Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 1963 which made it mandatory for farmers to sell all their  produce to the centres within area falling under the APMC’s jurisdiction. However, with the amendment, the monopoly of APMC has been  considerably reduced.

Former chairman of APMC, Pune Dilipkumar Khaire said, “This is a welcome step by the government as it will help the farmers to sell their produce directly to the consumers. However, a few reforms are needed including that a wholesaler should also be able to keep a stock of related things of a product so that when a retailer comes for buying, he can get everything under one roof. Similarly, the local government and the municipal corporation need to ensure that designated centres are created for farmers so that farmers can directly meet the consumers.”

Khaire said, “The cess which was levied by APMC was binding for farmers, but they were not given any facilities. Similarly, if a trader is trading outside the APMC, he would not pay the cess. With no cess, it will affect APMC financially.”

Severely criticising the government’s decision, Chairman State Market Committee Cooperative Federation Dilip Mohite said, “The decision is 100 per cent wrong. It will destroy the market committees and is equally bad for farmers who would now be easily fooled by traders from outside states.”

Mohite said, “There have been instances where traders from Hyderabad and Ahmedabad would buy produce from farmers at a high rate and would vanish after a few months. Here, APMC plays a major role in protecting the farmer and his produce.” 

“Similarly, APMC has taken huge loans for its infrastructure and staff. Now, what will happen to it? The government should have taken our opinion too before passing such ordinance. This will now lead to competition,” he added.