Illegal trade; substantial loss to APMC in Ch'nagar

With the number of traders violating the norms of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) and continuing their trade by selling their produce outside the premises, the committee is set to take a beating and incur losses.

The APMC which was set up in the district about five years ago has announced 113 products including turmeric, jaggery, coconut, banana, onions and vegetables to be traded here.

There are 59 traders and 73 middlemen who have possessed license for the trade. According to rules, the produce coming under the list should be sold on the APMC premises. But, some of the private traders who do not have license are doing roaring business selling agricultural produce outside premises.

Loads of vegetables are transported to Tamil Nadu and Kerala from here.  As the business continues unabatedly outside the premises, the revenue to the APMC has taken a beating.

There are also some small vendors selling baskets of tomatoes and plantains without paying necessary fee and have also opened offices to sell their products. But, APMC adminstration has not taken any steps over the issue.

These private traders are luring the farmers and procure the produce and shift it to neighbouring states. In the year 2011-12 APMC had collected Rs 75,30,658 as fee, while it dipped to 54,86,359 during the year 2012-13.

If necessary action is taken on the vendors violating the norms, the annual turnover of the APMC may cross Rs one crore. The government provides necessary support to the committee, but the negligence of the APMC administration has resulted in the traders taking it easy and violating the norms, complain the locals.

There are also some traders who directly procure vegetables from the farmers at various places in the district centre, which sometimes create artificial demand of products.

When contacted APMC president C Rajashekar said that the issue has been brought to his notice and he would discuss with the officials and take necessary action. Illegal trade would be banned on the premises, he assured.