SHIMLA/ROHRU: Apple farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Manch (SKM) on March 30 in Rohru re-asserted that the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government should immediately implement the APMC Act in all Sabji Mandis in Himachal Pradesh.
Not only this, the government must ensure that Arhtis make payment to the farmers on the basis of per kg apple packed in “universal cartons” for which a law should be passed in the current Session of Vidhan Sabha itself.
The apple farmers reiterated that these demands are a part of SKM’s a 20-point charter of demands gaining dust in the HP Secretariat in Shimla over the years.
The representatives from dozens of apple farmers organisations today hold a stock-taking workshop at Mendli in Rohru and reiterated their resolve to push forward the 20-point charter of demands which was submitted by the SKM to the state government in 2022.
The apple farmers discussed all issues threadbare and demanded that the government should implement the APMC Act, 2005, H.P. Passengers and Goods Taxation Act, 1955, Legal Metrology Act, 2009 with immediate effect so that the exploitation of Bagwans is stopped in the Mandis.
Bagwans demand that the government should immediately enact a law in the current Budget Session for the use of universal cartons, instead of telescopic cartons for packaging.
“It should be compulsorily implemented from this year itself”, they demanded.
They have sought the implementation of the charter of demands to stop the large-scale exploitation of farmers at the hands of arhtis and corporates involved in the Apple trade in Himachal Pradesh.
Apple farmers rue that they have been raising their long pending demands for a long time with the state government.
But the successive state governments are looking the other way round so far to implement the APMC Act.
As many as 150 farmers from Rohru, Chirgaon, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Theog blocks representing13 farmers’ organizations of SKM participated in the meeting and expressed their resentment over the delay in implementation of three laws that protect the apple farmers in the Mandis.
In a joint resolve, SKM Convener Harish Chauhan, co-convenor Sanjay Chauhan reiterated that the government should not test the patience of the farmers and should immediately implement the APMC Act in all the Apple Mandis in the state.
Progressive horticulturist Hari Chand Roach from Kotgarh, one of pioneers of rootstocks in Himachal Pradesh gave a detailed statement on better alternative of packaging on the use of Universal Carton.
He clarified to the apple farmers that universal carton is the only option which is being used in the world. Only 20 to 22 kg of apples can be packed in the carton, Roach said.
In universal carton, neither the quality of apple is damaged nor is there any problem in taking it from one place to another, Roach said.
But there are others who say that the farmers should get liberty to use the cartons as they prefer rather than asking them to pack in universal or telescopic cartons.
The farmers further demand that the government should fix freight and other transport charges according to the Passenger and Goods Taxation Act, 1955 and Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
The rates should be fixed per kilometer per quintal only stopping the exploitation of farmers by the cartels of Utility and truck walas.
The apple farmer leaders, who raised the issues of the apple industry included former Theog MLA Rakesh Singha, Rajan Harta, Sanjeev Thakur, President of Progressive Growers Association, Lokinder Bisht, Trilok Mehta, Deepak Thakur, Rajpal Chauhan, Sandeep Verma, Pankaj, Sukhdev Chauhan, Sanjay Dhani, Sanjay Mehta, Jai Singh Jehta, Harish Ghamta, Titu Bramta, Hardayal, Kailash Manta, Agardas Thakur among others participated.
