Scientific methods at Srinivaspur APMC keep touts away

The mango harvest has begun in the taluk. Farmers have started plucking some varieties of mangoes and bringing them to the APMC market. There are winds of change in the APMC market yard.

In view of the high court interim order to strictly adhere to the APMC rules, the stall owners, traders and middlemen are conducting their business with caution. Scientific weighing machines have been adopted by the traders.

Auctioning of the fruits have begun for the first time.  Now the opinion of the farmer is sought before a minimum lot is sold. Earlier, the details of the sale was written on plain paper. The sale price of mangoes is known a week in advance.

The transactions are recorded in the APMC book. An official receipt is given to the farmer. No commission can be demanded from the farmer. The court order has put the people’s representatives, officials and middlemen on the alert.

On the one hand basic facilities have to be provided at the APMC yard, while at the same time the rules relating to the APMCs have to be mandatorily followed. Any deviation can lead to problems.

The APMC administration has therefore given priority to road formation, drinking water and toilets. Asphaltation of the main road is being carried out in full swing. Permission to conduct business is not given to those who do not conduct business without scientific weighing. A weigh bridge has been installed.

Four scientific weighing machines have been installed for the benefit of the farmers. Rural electric supply has been converted to urban electric supply.

“A task force has been formed comprising of staff who are outsiders. Since thousands of people work here day and night, police protection has been sought”, APMC President M Srinivas.

Mangoes have just started arriving at the market. Rajgiri, Benisha and Badami varieties of mangoes have arrived on a small scale. Full scale arrival begin in another two weeks time. Rajgiri mangoes sell at Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per ton, Benisha at Rs 16,000 to Rs 17,000 per ton and Badami at Rs 16,000 to Rs 20,000 per ton. This is the initial rates. Mango growers hope that the rates will rise.

Farmers have started taking great care of their mangoes in bringing them to the market and have been using shredded paper in between mangoes to protect them from spoilage.

Although late in the day, the High Court order has led to significant changes in the APMC market.

Mangoes and the mango leaf are susceptible to many insect pests. These include swarming beetles, fruit flies, termites and mango seed weevil. In Srinivaspur, the fruit fly has been observed leading to anxiety among the farmers.

Except for a few varieties, most varieties have been affected by these pests as such mangoes can lead to decline in demand.

Growers who monitor their mango trees can detect insect pest problems in the early stages before damage becomes severe.

 When pests are sprayed in the early stages of development pesticides are usually more effective and a less toxic chemical may be used.