Veg prices likely to go up as HC stays scrapping of mandi tax

In a double whammy, after losing most of the apple and babugosha (William pear) crops, the farmers of Jammu & Kashmir would have to pay six per cent commission to aadhtis (middlemen) of Azadpur mandi for selling their produce. This is also likely increase the cost of fruits and vegetables in the city. 

The farmers of apple growing states — J&K and Himachal, are under threat that they will again have to play in the hands of middlemen. Most of the middlemen, active in the trade of fruits and vegetable for decades have welcomed the move of Delhi HC, which has stayed its earlier decision of scraping six per cent mandi tax from growers, pronounced on 1 October last year.

‘After hearing the review petition filed by Chamber of Azadpur Fruits & Vegetable Traders, the Delhi HC on 5 September ruled in favour of us. We had objected the move of Delhi government of collecting mandi tax from traders after the last year HC verdict’, said Metha Ram Kriplani, the president of the traders body. 

Kriplani further added that he was not here for community service so he cannot sell farmers produce without any interest. Another middleman Amarnath Nath Jaggi, who is in the business for more than 150 years, said, ‘Since we buy farmers’ produce on credit basis and the produce that we get is not upto the marks all the time. So we don’t get our money back instantly. In this way, traders lose more than six per cent interest as our principal money is blocked for months and some time even for years.’

Since the final hearing on the matter has been posted for 2 December, the growers find themselves in tight spot as some of the middlemen have started charging six per cent commission, making fruits and vegetables costlier for the consumers.

Demanding immediate intervention of government, an apple grower from Himachal Pradesh, PL Patta said, ‘This practice should be immediately stopped and government must intervene in this matter. Since traders make huge profits from our products, then why the commission is being levied on growers. Traders should pay the commission.’ Another grower from the same state, Ghanshyam, also supported the stand of his fellow grower.

For the last many years, commission charged in Delhi market had remained a major issue in the state. The face-off started after the Delhi government on 31 January, while implementing HC verdict, ordered to charge six per cent commission from traders, not growers, in Azadpur mandi.