Traders at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) in Maharashtra today called off their strike following a meeting with the government.
Ashok Hande, leader of traders from Navi Mumbai APMC, announced the decision. However, the traders in Nashik district said they would continue their strike.
This will provide relief to the consumers as the prices of vegetables had skyrocketed due to the strike.
Government assured that there will be no discrimination between the traders who want to sell the fruits and vegetables in the open market and those who want to sell through APMCs.
After Monday's meeting failed, representatives of APMC traders from Navi Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, Pune, etc., and the ministers of concerned departments met again today.
The state cabinet last week decided to de-list vegetables and fruits from the APMCs and allowed farmers to sell their produce directly in the open market.
The decision was welcomed by farmers and farmer leaders including the newly inducted minister of state Sadabhau Khot and MP Raju Shetty of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna.
Hande demanded there should be an equal law for all traders -- those who operate in APMC and others.
Subhash Deshmukh, minister for cooperation and marketing, MoS for marketing Sadabhau Khot, and revenue minister Chandrakant Patil attended today's meeting.
Sources said that Patil and Deshmukh assured that there would be no discrimination. Patil also warned that if traders continue to be adamant, strict action would be taken.
The traders eventually agreed to call off the strike. They also accepted government's statement that it would bring a fresh ordinance to incorporate traders' demands on August 6.
"Till the new ordinance is issued next month, APMC will start functioning. They will not collect any tax from farmers," Patil said.
Hande later announced that strike was off. However, a leader of traders from Nashik said the decision was not acceptable and the strike at Nashik APMC would continue.
