In Himachal Pradesh, the government has introduced a regulation requiring apples to be sold by weight to enhance transparency and fairness in the market. Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi announced that electronic weighing scales must be installed by commission agents at auction yards for weighing apple cartons, with sales proceeding based on the average weight per kilo. This initiative aims to standardize sales processes and address discrepancies.
Negi urged apple growers to utilize high-quality universal cartons for packaging to minimize losses. The regulation mandates equal application to all parties involved, including both apple growers and commission agents. Negi reassured that universal cartons are readily available at HPMC sales centers and through private market companies, noting a high satisfaction rate among growers with these cartons.
To combat previous cheating incidents, the government has engaged the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate complaints from apple growers. APMC is tasked with registering cases with the police based on these complaints, especially in instances of bounced cheques, to safeguard growers' financial interests.
Local authorities, such as SDMs and Tehsildars, have been authorized to enforce the new rules during the apple season. Additionally, Negi clarified that growers could use leftover universal cartons from previous years for pear packaging, offering flexibility and preventing waste.
Source: thenewshimachal.com