Traders and commission agents at some of Maharashtra’s agricultural markets stopped buying farm produce on Monday to oppose the state Cabinet proposal of one-year jail term and Rs 50,000 fine for traders who buy crops below minimum support price (MSP). Farmers’ representatives backed traders in opposing the proposed punishment.
Traders and commission agents at some of Maharashtra’s agricultural markets stopped buying farm produce on Monday to oppose the state Cabinet proposal of one-year jail term and Rs 50,000 fine for traders who buy crops below minimum support price (MSP). Farmers’ representatives backed traders in opposing the proposed punishment.
“We have decided not to participate in the auctions till our statelevel committee takes a call on further action next week,” said Mahavir Shah, president, Baramati Merchants’ Chamber.
Traders at Latur Agricultural Produce Market Committee boycotted the auction of pulses and soyabean. The Maharashtra Cabinet had at its meeting last week approved the proposed changes to the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation Act), 1963. However, none of the APMCs, nor the office of the director (marketing) received any communication on the changes. Shah said if the same commodity was being sold at a much lower price elsewhere in the country, no one would buy it from Maharashtra at a higher rate.
“The MSP of tur is Rs 54 per kg while the government itself is selling it at Rs 35 per kg. If we are forced to buy tur at MSP, who will buy it from us at a higher price?” said Shah. A Latur APMC official said, “We have informed the government that we did not receive any communication on the proposed changes in the Act. But traders boycotted the auctions based on news reports.” Farmers’ representatives said that proposed changes could jeopardise the interest of growers.
Anil Ghanvat, president, Shetkari Sangathana said, “The government is not in a position to buy all the produce from farmers. But traders will not buy it if they are forced to pay MSP. Thus, farmers will stand to lose.” Officials of the marketing department said if the government wanted to implement the changes in the current kharif season, it would have to change the law by way of ordinance. The existing APMC Act too has a provision for suspending licences of traders who do not buy at MSP. But, officials said, this provision in the Act has seldom been invoked.
“We have decided not to participate in the auctions till our statelevel committee takes a call on further action next week,” said Mahavir Shah, president, Baramati Merchants’ Chamber.
Traders at Latur Agricultural Produce Market Committee boycotted the auction of pulses and soyabean. The Maharashtra Cabinet had at its meeting last week approved the proposed changes to the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation Act), 1963. However, none of the APMCs, nor the office of the director (marketing) received any communication on the changes. Shah said if the same commodity was being sold at a much lower price elsewhere in the country, no one would buy it from Maharashtra at a higher rate.
“The MSP of tur is Rs 54 per kg while the government itself is selling it at Rs 35 per kg. If we are forced to buy tur at MSP, who will buy it from us at a higher price?” said Shah. A Latur APMC official said, “We have informed the government that we did not receive any communication on the proposed changes in the Act. But traders boycotted the auctions based on news reports.” Farmers’ representatives said that proposed changes could jeopardise the interest of growers.
Anil Ghanvat, president, Shetkari Sangathana said, “The government is not in a position to buy all the produce from farmers. But traders will not buy it if they are forced to pay MSP. Thus, farmers will stand to lose.” Officials of the marketing department said if the government wanted to implement the changes in the current kharif season, it would have to change the law by way of ordinance. The existing APMC Act too has a provision for suspending licences of traders who do not buy at MSP. But, officials said, this provision in the Act has seldom been invoked.