All vegetable mandis to go on strike today: Traders
3 Feb 2014 6:02 AM IST
On Monday Delhiites may have to face shortage of vegetables and fruits, as well as a price rise, because wholesale traders are ready to go on an indefinite strike from 3 February, in protest against the government’s decision to withdraw commissions for traders.
‘All mandis, which include those situated at Azadpur, Okhla, Keshavpuram and Ghazipur will go on strike since the commission we used to get from farmers has been stopped by the Delhi government. Undoubtedly, the supply to retail markets will also be affected and prices may shoot up in the few days,’ said Metha Ram Kriplani, president of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC).
Delihi High Court had issued an order on October 2013, which directed agents to charge commission, not from the seller (farmers) but from the buyer. What the court order says is that instead of charging a six percent from the farmer, the commission agent should take this from the wholesaler or retailer purchasing vegetables and fruits from him. The agents have decided to go on strike in Delhi too.
Delhi government’s spokesperson says it is only implementing a court order as commission agents have been fleecing farmers up until now. APMC’s secretary Raj Kumar Bhatia said, ‘We have decided to go on an indefinite strike from Monday unless this order is revoked. Azadpur itself has 3,800 commission agents who will protest at mandi gates and prevent work from happening.’
The state government has put an end to the six percent commission wholesalers used to receive from farmers upon procurement of the produce, saying that it was only mechanism to exploit. If these mandis continue their strike for a week, entire Delhi and the national capital region will be affected and the many commodities produced by the farmer will perish.
Delhi’s development minister, Girish Soni, asserted that he had met representatives of all the mandis last Thursday. However since the matter could not be resolved, another meeting will be held on Monday, where he would suggest the formation of a committee that would handle the trader’s complaints and suggestions.
‘All mandis, which include those situated at Azadpur, Okhla, Keshavpuram and Ghazipur will go on strike since the commission we used to get from farmers has been stopped by the Delhi government. Undoubtedly, the supply to retail markets will also be affected and prices may shoot up in the few days,’ said Metha Ram Kriplani, president of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC).
Delihi High Court had issued an order on October 2013, which directed agents to charge commission, not from the seller (farmers) but from the buyer. What the court order says is that instead of charging a six percent from the farmer, the commission agent should take this from the wholesaler or retailer purchasing vegetables and fruits from him. The agents have decided to go on strike in Delhi too.
Delhi government’s spokesperson says it is only implementing a court order as commission agents have been fleecing farmers up until now. APMC’s secretary Raj Kumar Bhatia said, ‘We have decided to go on an indefinite strike from Monday unless this order is revoked. Azadpur itself has 3,800 commission agents who will protest at mandi gates and prevent work from happening.’
The state government has put an end to the six percent commission wholesalers used to receive from farmers upon procurement of the produce, saying that it was only mechanism to exploit. If these mandis continue their strike for a week, entire Delhi and the national capital region will be affected and the many commodities produced by the farmer will perish.
Delhi’s development minister, Girish Soni, asserted that he had met representatives of all the mandis last Thursday. However since the matter could not be resolved, another meeting will be held on Monday, where he would suggest the formation of a committee that would handle the trader’s complaints and suggestions.
Next Story
