Diary Times News Service
Shimla, August 13: The Himachal Pradesh government is intensifying its efforts to crack down on commission agents who have not paid apple growers and later moved to mandis in other states. In response to the growing concerns of the farming community, the government has directed the Agricultural Produce Marketing Board to thoroughly investigate complaints against these agents, some of whom have moved to Haryana after their licenses were not renewed in Himachal Pradesh.
To protect apple growers from fraud and ensure timely payment to them for their produce, the government has strictly advised them to sell their crop only to registered commission agents. This precautionary measure is aimed at protecting the interests of growers and preventing further incidents of non-payment.
To tackle the problem of defaulting agents, the government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) which has resolved 3,076 of the 3,451 complaints filed by apple growers. These efforts have resulted in the recovery of crores of rupees owed to farmers. The government is now considering expanding the scope of the SIT to trace and take action against agents who have moved to other states to avoid investigation.
However, the recurring issue of payment defaults continues to be a significant concern. Every year, reports of non-payment emerge, leaving apple growers vulnerable to these fraudulent practices. Despite past efforts, the state government has so far failed to adequately protect the rights of apple growers, with the total amount of payment defaults running into crores. Frustrated by these ongoing challenges, apple growers are now demanding a permanent solution to this problem, and more stronger measures and more stringent regulations to ensure that such defaults do not occur in the future.
Emphasizing the importance of dealing with registered agents, Hemis Negi, managing director, State Agricultural Marketing Board, said, “Apple growers are strongly advised to transact with registered commission agents in the mandis so that we can take decisive action against those who fail to pay. This is important to ensure the safety and well-being of our farming community.”
Taking action against non-paying agents is an important step in restoring trust between apple growers and commission agents, while also reinforcing the government’s commitment to protect the livelihood of apple growers. However, the persistent issue of payment defaults highlights the urgent need for a more permanent and effective solution to protect the interests of apple growers across the state.
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