Wholesale markets across the state saw disruption of trade on Monday owing to the indefinite strike called by commission agents and traders. Sandeep Daundkar Wholesale markets across the state saw disruption of trade on Monday owing to the indefinite strike called by commission agents and traders. Sandeep Daundkar

THE FIRST day of the indefinite strike called by the commission agents and traders saw a sharp decline in the arrival of fruits and vegetables at the Pune Market Yard. All the markets of the city are dependent on the Yard for their daily supplies. While the government agencies expressed confidence over non-interrupted supply to the retail markets, fears are now being expressed over the possibility of the retail players also joining the strike.

On Monday, city’s Market Yard saw arrival of five quintals of onion, seven quintals of okra, six quintals of bean, and three quintals of tomatoes, respectively. The market had, on Sunday, seen the arrival of 17,687 quintals of onion, 252 quintals of okra, 206 quintals of beans and 1,685 quintals of tomatoes.

Similar was the situation with almost all other vegetables and fruits. There was no arrival of vegetables like potatoes, garlic, ginger, green peas, green chillies, bitter gourd, cauliflower and cabbage on Monday at the Market Yard.

Dilip Khaire, chairman of the administrative board of the Pune Market Yard, attributed the drastic dip to the strike. “We have appealed to the farmers to bring their produce to the market and we will ensure they are able to sell all the produce,” he said.

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Khaire said that the head-loaders of the market yard have not participated in the strike and along with the staff of the Market Yard will conduct the normal business of the market.

Wholesale markets across the state have seen disruption of trade on Monday after the start of the indefinite strike called by commission agents and traders. The recent changes in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act enacted by the state government have resulted in the strike. The state government has talked about creation of parallel alternatives to deal with the situation to counter the strike.

Wholesale markets or market yards are the crucial link in the chain for agricultural marketing. Farmers bring their produce to the market yards from where retail traders procure for the smaller markets. In case of strike at the wholesale markets, retail markets are expected to run dry. The decision of the government to allow farmers to sell anywhere it is hoped will keep the retail markets in full supply.

Also Read | Changes in APMC Act: Traders begin strike in Pune, Shetti says farmers will sell produce directly

Individual households had complained of escalation of prices in the retail markets at certain parts of the city. However there were no paucity of supply in the retail markets in suburbs like Kothrud, Khadki, Vimannagar, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Shivajinagar and other places. If the strike continues for a couple of days more, individual households will begin to feel the pinch.

Gultekdi Marketyard wore a deserted look on Monday. Sandeep Daundkar Gultekdi Marketyard wore a deserted look on Monday. Sandeep Daundkar

Ganesh Shetty, president of the Pune Hoteliers’ Association said, on a daily basis, the hotels and restaurants require 60-70 tonnes of vegetables. “We procure our raw material from the bigger retail markets like Shivaji Market in camp and Mandai. As of now, we have not felt the pinch,” he said. However in case the retail traders decide to join the strike Shetty said trouble would start all around.

Procurement of some specific vegetables and fruits like ginger, potato, garlic, apple, pineapple, he said, would be tough as most of this is not cultivated in Maharashtra. “The traders knew the links and could procure them from various parts of the country,” he said.

Shetty said that this time it is hoped that farmers would sell directly to the retail traders which would keep the supply chain unbroken. “Even hoteliers are ready to buy from the farmers directly,” he said.

Monday’s strike however did not make much effect at the Pimpri Maket. Vishnu Salve, president of the Pimpri market said farmers had come directly to sell their produce. “Due to increase in arrival prices had actually gone down,” he said.

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