The Hindu Business Line : Bill on APMC Act referred to House panel in Maharashtra

THE Bill amending the Maharashtra Agriculture Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1963, tabled in the Vidhan Sabha on Saturday, was referred to a Joint Select Committee of the Legislature for further recommendations.

There have been diverse views on the Bill as it will radically change the face of agriculture markets controlled by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in the State. As Saturday was the final day of the session, the Bill can now be taken up only in the winter session.

The bill has been drafted along the lines of model APMC Act of the Centre. The bill aims to give the farmers more marketing options for their produce. With the implementation of the act, farmers in the State will be set free from the compulsion of selling their produce in APMC-controlled markets.

The bill has provision for creation of direct marketing system, special commodity markets, private markets and farmer-consumer markets.

The bill, in its statements of objects and reasons, clearly enunciates that "In such markets, agriculture produce can be directly sold by the producer to the buyer and the consumer will able to buy directly from the producer which will help in substantially reducing the number of middlemen, now prevailing in the market."

The bill also attempts to improve the management and administration of the APMC by introducing professional management skills.

Under the provisions for the `farmer-consumer market', any person can be granted licence for setting up of such a market. Provided he creates the necessary infrastructure. In such a market, the seller shall collect the service charge on the sale of the agriculture produce and it remit it to the market proprietor. No other charges will be levied on the sale or purchase of the produce in the market.

The bill also delineates the system for grievance redressal in such markets.

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Bill on APMC Act referred to House panel in Maharashtra