The newly formed government of Maharashtra under leadership of Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde has taken a decision to reform election process of agriculture produce market committee (APMC) and this strategic reforms will change indirect process of election with direct election process through farmers. In Maharashtra there are 305 APMC markets spread over eight divisions, most APMCs are under the control of the NCP and Congress. Indirect election process is key method to re-elect over the chairmanship which will mostly form monopolies of single families belongs to particular party.
Currently, the Maharashtra APMC (Development and Regulation) Act of 1963 allows only the members of gram panchayats, agriculture credit societies, and multi-purpose cooperative societies, to elect the members of APMC and various market panels that function under the APMC and omitted involvement of farmers. This is second time after 2017 when BJP lead government tried to scrap this system where they have appointed a committee to study if farmers need to be given the voting right to change the profile of APMCs and make them farmer-oriented. This policy elevate voting right of farmers whose name mentions over agriculture land registered documents like 7/12.
What will change after direct Involvement of farmers in election process? The farmers will become integral part of marketing sector and form democratic character over state run development institute. This committee will chances to provides farmer’s interest facilities and dilute the operating role of traders and commission agents in markets and the Markets functioning panels of traders, commission agents will remains as nominal. Yet another problem farmers have faced over years to attain value of MSP which was guaranteed to get that minimum prices from state. Only 6% farmers who are aware about the scheme and facilities must be provided through market committees would achieve encouragement of awareness of basic needs and post cultivation facilities.
- – Rushikesh Kalokar.