Selling apples in Himachal Pradesh becomes challenge as commission agents go on strike

SHIMLA: The estimated Rs 5,000 crore apple trade economy of Himachal Pradesh is facing challenges with the commission agents refusing to buy the apples according to the weight and have gone on strike.
The apple growers have demanded action against the commission agents who have backed from the agreement in the middle of season. Horticulture minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the government will not roll back the decision and would take action against the commission agents who will not follow the rules.
Apple was not sold in the mandis of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday as the apple traders are not ready to sell according to the weight and have announced a strike. The apple growers are upset due to their going on strike and are waiting for their return.
Horticulture minister Jagat Singh Negi said that without having discussion with the government, the commission agents have stopped buying the apples from the farmers which is unfair with the growers. He said that apples will be sold on a kg basis and there will be no rollback of decision. He said that those flouting the rules will be dealt with sternly. He said that politics is being played and a political party is instigating the commission agents.
He said that two days back he had convened a meeting of all the stakeholders and everyone had put forth their views and the government had clarified that the apples would be sold according to the weight only. He said that now the commission agents have taken one sided decision.
Sanyukt Kisan Manch has accused the commission agents of cheating the apple growers. While addressing media persons in Shimla, Manch's co-convenor Sanjay Chauhan said that earlier the commission agents had agreed to sell apples on the basis of weight but now they are reluctant. He demanded action against such traders and warned the government not to roll back its decision to sell apples by weight.
Manch's convenor Harish Chauhan said that it is unfortunate that for the first time in the history of the state the commission agents have refused to buy apples and have gone on strike in the middle of the season. He said that when farmers had reached at the mandi to sell their produce be it Rohru, Parala, Dhalli or Parwanoo the commission agents did not buy their produce.
He said that the state government had held six rounds of meetings and all agreed to buy on weight basis. He said that if this system was not feasible then why commission agents had agreed earlier.
Himachal Pradesh Commission Agents Mahasangh president Harish Thakur while addressing media persons in Shimla said it is not possible to sell apples on the basis of kg basis as there is not enough space in the mandis for this. He said that without space, apples will not be sold on the basis of kg.
He said this decision is being forced on them. He said that “Arhatis” (commission agents) were challaned in Dhalli and Parala mandis. In view of this, they have decided not to sell apples in all the mandis of the apple-dominated area. “This time it should be allowed to go on as before and universal carton should be implemented from next year, so that there is no need for weighing,’ he said.