After freeing farmers from selling their produce to middleman at the agricultural produce marketing committees (APMC) markets, Maharashtra chief minister, Devendra Fhadnavis has launched farmer to consumer market in Mumbai.
The market that will have a capacity of 35 tonnes will be opened every Sunday and farmers from Junnar in Pune district, Palghar and Thane can sell their produce directly to consumers.
In July 2016, state government has brought a new rule that exempt farmer from selling vegetables and fruits to open market, rather than bringing it to APMC market where farmers had to pay commissions, for transporting, loading-unloading and weighing.
Most of these levies go to intermediaries like the traders, weighing agents, transporters and labourers.
The farmers are selling the produce through Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) at Sunday’s market.
There are about 40 stalls at this market which will trade every Sunday between 9am and 3pm.
However, farmers have asked the government to start such market on weekdays on many locations, so that they can directly connect with consumer and earn a better price.
We are seeking strategic locations, where more people can benefit from our sale, a farmer, who have put a stall at the Sunday market told Agritimes on the condition of anonymity.
Minister of state for marketing Sadabhau Khot, a farmer himself, said the government had facilitated establishment of 35 such markets in the state after the amendment to the APMC Act.
But the government plans to set them up across the state.
These bazars will be organised on a fixed day of a week to sell vegetables and fruits produced in Maharashtra. The farmers will get training from the officials of the Cooperation and Marketing departments.
Expenses incurred on facilities like booking amount for the site, furniture, drinking water, light, waste disposal, parking and security shall be borne jointly by the farmers, farmers’ groups and farmers’ companies, the state government said in a statement.
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