Apple growers resent arbitrary labour charges Tribune News Service Shimla, July 21 Apple growers are enraged over the arbitrary labour and other charges being recovered by commission agents (arhtias) in various wholesale markets and urged the government to take measures to curb the illegal practice. The issue has been raised by the Himalayan Apple Growers Society which met at Hatkoti in Jubbal on Thursday, to discuss the problems being faced by growers. Rajeev Chauhan, Chairman of the society, said the commission agents were charging Rs 8 to Rs 20 per box as the labour cost and other charges. These charges were to be paid by the buyer and not the sellers. However, these charges were being deducted by the commission agents, while making payment to the growers. The society also expressed concern over the speculative figures of expected apple production by functionaries of various government agencies being given to the media which made growers vulnerable to exploitation by suppliers of packaging material and transporters. Chauhan said the reports of a bumper crop had led to a increase in the prices of apple cartons ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 11 per carton depending on the quality. Similarly, the rate of apple trays used for separating layers of fruit had increased by 50 to 60 paise per tray. The overall cost of packaging had gone up by 20 to 23 per cent. The society thanked Horticulture Minister Vidya Stokes for ensuring discontinuation of practice of paying 20 per cent less for small size fruit and taking up the issue of duty-free apple being imported into the country under SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement). A deputation of the society would meet Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and apprise him of the problems being faced by the apple growers due to misuse of the SAFTA by traders who were exporting produce of non-SAFTA countries. The society comprising growers of Himachal and Uttarakhand also elected its office-bearers. Rajeev Chauhan was elected Chairman, Vikram Maira vice-chairman, Balwant Justa president, Ranvir Jhouta vice-president, Ram Lal Chauhan general secretary, Hardev Thakur treasurer and Rajesh Dhanta spokesperson of the society.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:29:08 +0000
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