Agricultural marketing reforms in Maharashtra in context with Model act: Status and issues

An attempt was made in the paper to extensively review the Agricultural Marketing reforms which was taken place in Maharashtra in context with Model legislation act titled ‘The State Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2003 of Government of India. The objective to review the reforms is to know the status and issues pertaining to the reforms taken place in State of Maharashtra. In response to Model act, 2003, Government of Maharashtra amended his old APMC act, 1963 mainly in the year 2005 by passing the Maharashtra Agriculture Produce Marketing (Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 2005 on 27 December, 2005 and thereafter. The amendments in APMC act allows directing marketing, delisting of fruits and vegetables from the preview of APMC committee, made provision to charge the commission charge from buyer (not from the farmer), create new private market, establish farmer-consumer market, allows to do contract farming in the state, initiated the process of establishment of terminal market complex, made licensing system simplified, created simplified administrative procedure in APMC especially in regards to market fee and levy etc. Even though Government of Maharashtra has amended the APMC act, it significance is not seen in all part of the State. There are few issues in this matter which are related to commission charge, losses of revenue, investment in private market, high market fee, restrictive provision of Essential Commodity act; natural justice etc should be addressed at proper policy level so as make these amendment more effective in the State.