SHIMLA: Ahead of “Chalo Shimla Call” given by the Syunkt Kisan Manch (SKM) to gherao Himachal Pradesh Secretariate on August 5, High level government committee decided that the orchardists will get refund of six per cent GST. The government released Rs 8.65 Crore to HPMC to clear MIS Payments till 2021. HPMC will procure one Crore subsidized cartons this season for the orchardists, Committee informed.
Apart from this, Committee chaired by Chief Secretary RD Dhiman also informed that APMC has already released Rs 12.36 Crore for improvement of the Chaila Kenchi- Sainj road.
The road stretch remains “chaotic and jammed” due to the ferrying of hundreds of trucks and utility vehicles carrying apple consignments to APMC Parala Fruit Mandi every day.
The committee was constituted by Chief Minister to check exploitation of orchardists at various levels.
The apple farmers' anger is justified as the Modi government's promise that the farmers' income would be doubled by 2022, sounds not only hollow.
But it is exactly the opposite that has happened in the case of apple farmers of Himachal: "It is the cost of production that has doubled for the farmers for the last four years due to high rate of inflation".
The cost of producing one carton of apple has doubled now stands at Rs 700 considering all inputs, year long labour and sprays and pesticides etc". Even the chamber of industry, CII, Himachal supports contention of the farmers on this.
SKM has gone ahead reiterating that they would stage protest on August 5 till the entire 20-point charter of the demands is not accepted.
On the other the government spokesperson said committee decided that a subsidy of 6 per cent on Goods and Tax Services (GST) would be made available through Horticulture Department and HPMC to all the orchardists in the state who had purchased apple boxes and trays after 1st April, 2022.
To avail this benefit, the orchardists of the state should visit the nearest office of the Horticulture Department in their respective areas.
They have to produce a copy of the GST bill, sales case (Sale Proof)/Transportation Goods Receipt/Market Fee copy along with their application on a prescribed format.
This subsidy would also be available on cartons and trays sold through HPMC. This expenditure on GST would be borne by the state government, he stated.
The Committee also directed HPMC to make necessary arrangements for allotment of at least one crore packing material this season.
The Rs. 8.65 crore which the state government has released to the horticulture department, should be utilized for clearing pending liabilities of MIS for the year 2021.
The sufficient funds would be made available by the government for the liabilities of this year, Committee informed.
The provision of additional budget would be made immediately after spending the budget of this year for the payment of equipment, anti-hail nets and other related equipment to the orchardists.
The government has re-implemented the old scheme of subsidy on various types of insecticides, spokesperson said.
The Rs. 12.36 crore has been sanctioned by APMC for the improvement of Chhaila Kainchi to Sainj road so that immediate relief can be provided to the horticulturists for smooth transportation of the fruit near Parala Fruit Mandi.
State Government has directed the Public Works Department to start this work on priority basis.
Committee informed the matter regarding the constitution of the Horticulture Board is under consideration of the government.
Citing 20-point charter of demand submitted to the government, the apple growers representing over 27 different organisations have rallied against the government under the banner of Syunkt Kisan Manch(SKM) demanding rollback of GST to six percent.
SKM has already given a “Chalo Shimla Call” to the farmers on August 5 to gherao the State Secretariate ventilating their long pending grievances and demands.
The farmers demand Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Grade A Rs 60 per kg, Grade B Rs 44 kg and Grade C Rs 24 per kg along the lines of Jammu and Kashmir. On this Committee has remained silent so far.
MIS is one and only way to break the “nexus of traders-arhtiyas and corporates”, who rule the roost in markets”. The prices of apple have crashed by Rs 1000 per carton in Mandis in the month of July itself, said Ashutosh Chauhan from Progressive Growers Association(PGA), which has now joined SKM.
SKM demands CA store facility in private CAS stores for farmers on subsidized rates as Corporates have availed the huge subsidises from the Central government to set up the CAS in the state.
But the Committee is silent on this.
SKM also demands strict implementation of the APMC Act in all Mandis to ensure payment of the fruit sold in Mandi in day or two time to the farmers.
APMC provides for payment of fruit sold in the Mandis on the same day. But Arhtiyas are playing with the APMC Act under the nose of APMC deferring payments for months, even for years, said the angry apple farmers.
The Auction platforms in Parala, Bhattakufar, Rohru, Solan, and other Mandis are clogged with apple cartons. Auction platform should only display the new arrivals of fruit ensuring transparent auction for farmers.
But the arhtiyas piled up cartons on the platform under the nose of APMC. Auction is not transparent where the farmers can hear and see each and every buyer and arhtiya hawking the prices, the farmers demand.
The farmers have no choice access to sell the produce to the traders who give the best price.
Even Auction is not done transparently. Arhtiyas and Ladanis(buyers) do it under the handkerchief (Tauliyas) rather than selling in an open auction as provided under the APMC Act.
But the Committee has yet to address these demands.
SKM welcomed and thanked the government for restoring the old subsidy scheme on all pesticides. This will provide relief to the farmers.
SKM demands the government should provide subsidized fertilisers whose prices have gone through the roof almost doubled for the last three years, making apple farming out of reach to an average farmer in the state.
SKM demands the pending payments of all farmers of apple that HPMC and HIMFED have procured under Market Intervention Scheme. We welcome Committee has ensure the release of money for this, SKM says.
SKM Convenor Harish Chauhan and Co-convenor Sanjay Chauhan said that the government should consider all 20 point charter of demands. Thousands of farmers will march to Shimla on August 5 in support of the demands.
It should ask the manufacturers to reduce prices of cartons and trays with a reduced GST, rather than pushing farmers into getting cumbersome formalities of availing six percent subsidy on GST as in most cases small farmers donot take bills, he said.
