Himachal Apples now available in universal cartons
Ending the exploitive regime in the fruit markets, the middleman and Commission agent would not force the Apple growers and fruit producers of the state of Himachal Pradesh to supply oversized & overweight apple cartons now. The State Government notified a new marketing regime forcing new rules with effect from April 6, 2023, directing all the APMCs to ensure the selling of all fruits including Apples by weight which should be made available by the seller in standard size and weight universal cartoon.
In this regard, a notification was issued here on Thursday stating that the resolution was passed by the members of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board during its meeting held on 4th April 2023.
The notification issued by the State Secretary of Agriculture maintained that all products should be sold by weight in all the markets of Himachal Pradesh. All market functionaries, traders, sellers, buyers, and commission agents registered under the Himachal Pradesh Agricultural and Horticultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2005 should observe this notification.
The Managing Director of HPAMB said that according to new norms Apple and similar fruits should be sold by weight in all the markets in the market area. The Sellers would bring apples and similar fruits to be packed in universal cartons, telescopic cartons, crates, etc. However, the weight in each box should not exceed 24 Kg. in any case.
The notification further stated that the seller should have to indicate the proper weight of apples and similar fruits on the carton or box with a permanent marker.
It shall be mandatory to weigh the sample box(s) in each market yard or auction floor. The commission agents should have to arrange for a weighing machine for this purpose. The weighing instruments and such weights and measures must satisfy the requirements as prescribed under the HP Weights & Measures Act, 1968, or any other law for the time being in force, shall be used for weighing or measuring agricultural produce in a notified market area.
In case of any dispute with regard to weight, a Sub-Committee consisting of Seller, Buyer, Commission agent, and APMC’s representative, should weigh the sample(s) on APMC’s weighing machine, the weight so arrived, shall be considered final, and conclusive.
All new licenses, renewal of licenses, and allocation of space in yards would be subject to the condition that trade will be undertaken only on a weight basis. Secretary Agriculture stated that all the instructions will be implemented in letter and spirit in all the APMCs should have to ensure an adequate number of weighing machines in their yards.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Fruit grower’s unions including small and marginal orchardists are pressing the government to ensure the exploitation of fewer pro-farmers’ market practices in the Fruit Mandis as big orchardists under the influence of few private dealers and middlemen are alluring apple growers to compete with them by packing oversized and overweight cartoon.
Those growers who are supplying small consignments of quality apples in standard size and weight could not able to compete in the old market regime they are being paid lesser prices for not catering to the allurement of oversized and weight boxes.
