Subsidized veggies at another 22 outlets, move to bring farmers to fair-price stores

MUMBAI: The state government has decided to turn its hugely successful vegetable distribution scheme into a permanent feature, besides extending it to another 22 co-operative stores this week. It is also considering a move to enable farmers to directly sell their produce to buyers at fair price stores.
The department of agriculture and marketing announced on Monday that these centres will be turned into farmers' markets where growers can directly sell to buyers.Farmers and consumers, the two ends of the chain, suffer most while middlemen rake in vast profits by investing minimum effort.
Moreover, 22 centres from the Sahakari Bhandar franchise are prepared to join the project beginning this week. Chairman Sanjay Shete said, "We already sell fruits and vegetables amounting to 100 tonnes each month, with a turnover of Rs 3.5 crore. Our rates are lower than retail markets so we are ideal candidates for participating in this scheme. If the government helps with infrastructure like delivery vehicles or mobile vans we are willing to set up stores in disused civic markets or under flyovers where parking is banned."
The vegetable distribution project, started as an experiment to curb artificial hikes by retail cartels, will now become a permanent fixture, agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil told TOI. "The scheme is here to stay. We plan to convert a huge area in Goregaon into a distribution hub from where farmers' produce can be directly sent to all parts of Mumbai," he said. On Monday evening, he called a meeting of 20-odd officers who are implementing and monitoring the system across four zones comprising Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. The minister said he was keen that the monopoly of middlemen and profiteering traders be eliminated. "We are of course happy that the APMC has partnered this effort. However, the aim in the long term is to channelize vegetables, even fruit, directly from farmer to consumer. We have divided Mumbai into four zones and are inviting public participation. There is no shortage of produce since our procurement systems are in place. Anybody who can give space for this scheme will be supplied vegetables, electronic weighing scales, crates, even customised mobile vans if they wish," he said. Vikhe Patil said the ministry had requisitioned 250 mobile vans complete with racks and shelves at a discounted rate.
However, cooperatives like Apna Bazar and Suparibaug, which are voluntarily handling the assignment for a month, feel a few incentives will be essential if the scheme is extended. "We are investing manpower and space and a little help on a no-profit no-loss basis would encourage us to continue serving the people's need," said Kishor B Desai, managing director of the Lalbaug-based Suparibaug cooperative.
Several housing societies, organizations and private parties like builders and politicians have also expressed interest in bringing the initiative to their localities. While the Indian Navy wishes to open fair price shops for its employees at three defined locations, the Mumbai Port Trust has already identified four spaces within its land holdings. Staffers of the Bandra (east) government colony are gearing up for the opening of their store as early as Wednesday or Thursday while the neighbouring police colony is keen to do so as well. Builders, NGOs and self-help groups have also showed interest.