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BE AWARE(THESE DAYS) BEFORE SENDING APPLES TO DELHI...
APPLE GROWERS SUFFER AS WHOLESALERS GO ON STRIKE IN DELHI
(Borrowed from Tribune India) August 5
The agitation started by wholesale suppliers (ladanis) and commission agents (arhtias) of Azadpur market in Delhi on the issue of commission has... added to the woes of apple growers who are already facing problems in marketing their bumper crop due to bad roads and shortage of trucks.

The one-day token strike by wholesale suppliers and commission agents today ensured that no trading took place as a result over 300 trucks of apple which had already reached Delhi could not be auctioned. Over 1,000 trucks that were already on way would create a glut in the market. The two have joined hands to thwart the implementation of the amended bylaws of the Delhi Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act as per which the 6 per cent commission would have to be paid by buyers instead of growers.

The wholesale suppliers maintained that amendment, if implemented, would lead to a situation where they have to pay commission twice. They were already charged 8 per cent commission on sales to various suppliers across the country. If they were forced to pay 6 per cent commission at the time of purchasing produce they would have to pay a total commission of 14 per cent, which was unjust. They have threatened to follow the one-day token strike with longer strikes if the amendment was not withdrawn. If this happened the ultimate sufferers would be the growers.

The growers were worried as agitation by wholesale suppliers during peak season had send the prices of apple crashing as the market was already flooded with fruit. Harvesting was at its peak and already 51.31 lakh boxes of apple have been sent to the market as against 33 lakh boxes in 2008.

Last year, when the state had a lean crop only 5 lakh boxes had been marketed in the corresponding period. Daily 700 to 750 trucks, carrying over 3.5 lakh boxes, leave the state daily for various markets.

Chairman of the Himalayan Apple Growers’ Society Rajiv Chauhan said the state government should not tamper with the value chain of apple from orchard to consumer in which wholesale suppliers and ‘arhtias’ were vital links. It hardly matters who paid the commission as long as the growers get value for their produce. If wholesale suppliers were made to pay commission, they would certainly offer lower rates to growers. The government should focus attention on maintenance of roads, which were in a bad shape and arrange adequate number of trucks for transportation of produce.