APMCs in Gujarat to resume operations from Apr 15: Govt

In a relief for farmers hit by the coronavirus lockdown, all Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in Gujarat will resume operations from Wednesday with the special focus on social distancing and avoiding crowding, the state government said on Tuesday.

Majority of APMCs across the sate have been shut since the national lockdown was announced on March 24. The period under curbs was extended till May 3 on Tuesday morning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "To avoid crowding at such market yards, a committee will be formed in each district to guide farmers as well as traders," said Ashwani Kumar, Secretary in the office of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

Each committee will be chaired by the district registrar and include chairman of respective APMC among its members."Farmers wanting to sell their produceneed to first register themselves with the committee, which will then ask a specific number of farmers to visit the market yard on a specific date with just a sample of their agri produce. This will enable us to enforce social distancing, as only a limited number of farmers will remain present on a given date," Kumar told reporters.

"After inspecting the samples, traders will place orders with farmers," he said. Kumar said that instead of asking a farmer to bring  his entire produce to an APMC, the trader concerned will collect it from his farm. "Alternatively, farmers can transport the produce to godowns of traders. This will eliminate the possibility of crowding at market yards," Kumar added.