Pre-regulated market days-malpractices in wholesale Vegetable trade.

Ahmedabad City had a Borough Municipality in the year 1944-47 with a population of about 5 lakhs and so far as the wholesale vegetable business is concerned, it was entirely in the hands of General Commission Agents who had their own property of Rajnagar Vegetable Market in the city of Ahmedabad at Dhalgarwad. Thus, the wholesale vegetable trade was completely monopolized in the hands of the 14 trades and nobody else was permitted to do the business of the rule, the General Commission Agents, in Vegetables. In pre-independence time of British rule, the agriculturists growing vegetable used to bring their produce in the Rajnagar Market, where so far as the sale is concerned an under-cover (Hatha) system was prevailing and the grower was left completely at the mercy of the trade who was not bound to disclose the rates of the produce fixed by him to the grower. Even a system of sample taking was also prevalent at that time and the General Commission Agents were taking away some produce on the guise of samples. Even after the sale was effected, all possible malpractices were played in case of weighment, because at that time, weighment was mad by the hand scales and the persons employed in the weighment were the servants of the General Commission Agents. At that time, the Price, Fixed were on Maund, which was equivalent to 40 Sheers, but the grower had to give the produce of 42-45 sheers, which was produce for less amount. All possible fraudulent means were also applied against the interest of the actual grower so far as the weighment was concerned. Even at times the General Commission Agent used to buy for himself and he would sell the same produce ad higher rate thereafter and thus the grower was put to a grat loss. Some of the agricultural produce was also sold in the market without fixing the General Commission Agent. So far as the system of payment to the grower was concerned, it was also defective, because he was used to borrow money from General Commission Agent previously and he had no voice the accounts maintained by trade. As a general practice, the vegetable grower was not paid in cash on the day of sale, but he had to collect moneys afterwards at the sweet-will of the General Commission Agent. So far as the commission is concerned, it was charged at one Anna (now six paise) then prevailing per one rupee from the seller-grower. In case of produce brought from outside areas, at times, the general commission agents used to charge commission both from the vendor and the purchaser and at times, even the price of the produce was fixed arbitrarily to very low extent.

Establishment of Regulated Market in 1948 and efforts there of.

Even in the times of the British rule, there was a Bombay Cooperative Socieies Act, 1925 and the Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1939 prevailing in the State of Bombay of which the Ahmedabad was a District town. After the Formation of the separate State of Gujarat, the Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act, 1961 was enacted and so far as the Agricultural Produce Markets Act is concerned, it was enacted as a Gujarat Agricultural produce Markets Act of 1963.

In the years of about 1942-44, because of malpractices of the played in the trade of wholesale vegetable, some of the growers especially in the city and Dascroi Taluka of Ahmedabad district gathered and they formed a cooperative society of the growers on 23/12/1942 which and known as The Ahmedabad Co-operative Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Ltd. (Khedut Sabha). The said society mainly used to do the business of commission agent in Leafy and perishable vegetable. There was another cooperative society also established which was mainly dealing in the wholesale business of Potatoes and it was known as The Potato Growers Cooperative Association Ltd. (Khedut Sabha) The said society mainly used to do the business of commission agent in Leafy and perishable vegetables. There was another cooperative society also established which was mainly dealing in the wholesale business of potatoes and it was known as The potato Growers Cooperative Association Ltd. The agriculturists then were quite aware about the malpractices played with vegetable growers and therefore in consultation with the leaders of the above two cooperative societies, a representation was made to the city of Ahmedabad, The said move was vehemently oposed by the traders because the same was going to adversely affect their interest. A proposal was submitted in the year 1942 to the Government for issuing a notification for the establishment of the market under Bombay Agricultural Produce Markets Act 1939 and a notification, the wholesale vegetable trade was regulated within a radius of 12 miles from the Ahmedabad Market Yard with effect from 24th May 1948. So far as the said notification is concerned the traders dealing in the wholesale vegerables, who had a monopoly and complete control over the said business made all efforts to scrap the market and they had moved the courts to obtain injection to restrain Ahmedabad Market Committee from the holding of its first general meeting, but they filed in their attempts and the Regulated Market in the city of Ahmedabad was established as per schedule. Even though the notification was published by the Government and the Market was established, a regulated market cannot properly function without convenient accommodation and space and so the committee approached the then Ahmedaad Municipal Borough, which handed over the possession of the Municipal Market at Manek Chowk So Far as the market was concerned, it was in possession of a contractor and the Municipality took over the possession and handed over the same to the Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee. So far as the Rajnagar Vegetable Market is concerned, the owners and the 14 General Commission Agents who had complete control over the same, refused to give the possession of their market and hence the Manek Chowk market was declared as the first market yard. All possible efforts made by the traders to see that the committee may not get possession of the Manek Chowk market also failed and the actual commencement of the working of the market yard in the city of Ahmedabad was first made on 12th July, 1948 when the then Hon’ ble Minister Shri V. L. Mehta, Minister for Finance and Co-operation in the Government of Bombay made an opening ceremony of the Manek Chowk Market Yard.

The 14 General Commission Agents, who had a complete monopoly over the trade, there after realised their mistake and they approached the committee and the Minister and the Government, and requested to declare the Rajnagar Market as the market yard and they handed over the possession of the Rajnagar Vegetable Market to the Market Committee and a notification for notifying that place also as a market yard was published on 20th July, 1948. As a Result, Rajnagar-Bhagubhai Vanda Market was declared as a Principal market and Manek Chowk market was declared as a sub-market and hence from 20th July, 1948, a regular market was established at that place under the Bombay Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1939.

The Government has also issued a notification regulating 10 kinds of fruits viz Mango, Banana, Watermelon ()Tadbuch), Melon(Teti), Papaiya, Guava (Jamrukh), Beer, Falsa, Sugarcane, Pomegranate, with effect from 12th September, 1950, but the committee had no sufficient space for the regulation of the fruits. By that time India became independent and the Municipal Borough of the Ahmedabad ciry was converted in to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Municipal Corporation come out with a proposal to hand over the possession of the Kalupur Market which was in the hands of he Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Ahmedabad market committee also decided to take the possession of the Kalupur market from 13th January m 1959 on rental basis for the fruit and vegetable market, but the traders operating in the market vehemently opposed and they had filed writ application and matters were taken up to the Supreme Court. Even at present also the traders without obtaining any licence from the committee unauthorised occupy the said market. The Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee also resolved to de-notify the said market as the operation are not under the control regulation of the Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee. If the Kalupur Market is handed over to the Agricultural Produce Market Committee, the APMC can establish a Regulated Market there.

Top

Period after the establishment of the Regulated Market at Ahmedabad.

Even after the establishment of the Regulated Market at Rajnagar Bhagubhai Vanda Market, the traders as a class could not tolerate the Regulated Market, because they were not adopting themselves to the new regulated set up. So far as Regulated Market of wholesale vegetable is concerned. It was for the first time in whole of India that such a Regulated Market was established. The old under-cover (Hatha) system which was formerly prevailing, was not completely done away with, but under the Act and Rules. Trade was bound to make Kabala (agreement) in triplicate and he had to hand over one copy to the vegetable grower and one to the market committee. Under the rules and regulations of the new Regulated Market, the weighment was under the Beam Scales and also supervised by the inspectors of the market committee. As per the provisions of the Regulated Market, the trader was also bound to pay in cash to the grower for his produce sold and all possible efforts were by the Market Committee to do away with the malpractices which were prevalent in the old times. Under the new Regulated Market, [1] Public auction, [2] correct weighment, and [3] cash price, were three fundaments to be observed by the traders operating in the market. The new system was also opposed by the traders and in the year 1949-50. The traders also refused to apply for obtaining licences under the Regulated Market and they planned a collective non-corporation with the Market Committee and cooperative societies, the market committee succeeded. When there was a vehement opposition by the traders in the year 1949, the market Committee approached the Government for de-notifying the Rajnagar market and accordingly, the Rajnagar market was de-notified from 01/09/1949, but ultimately as the traders surrendered the said market was also notified as a market yard from 29/12/1949.

Working of the Regulated Market after the formation of the Gujarat State in 1961.

The regulated wholesale business was carried out in about 6,000 Sq.Yds. land in Rajnagar Bhagubhai Vanda and because of the increase in population and increase in wholesale vegetable trade, there was a complete congestion and hence the Market Committee was looking forward for some other place. In the year 1967, the Ahmedabad Cooperative Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Ltd. During its Silver Jubilee occasion, requested the then Co-operation Minister of Gujarat State Shri Thakorbhai Desai to visit the actual market operation and the condition of the growers in the market yard. The State Government was thus apprised of the need of more space and accommodation for market yard. The committee and the cooperative societies made joint efforts for obtaining some other convinient and specious space for the development of market yard. In the market established under the act, instead of 14 original General Commission Agents, there were 46 General Commission Agents and 136 “A” class traders and third cooperative society of growers namely Ahmedabad Vegetable Growers were obtaining competitive rates and prices in return of their produce. In the regulated market, Shopkeepers, Lariwalas, Toplawalas and all “B” class traders in the city were coming to purchase the vegetable. Tolats, Hamals, Recorders and Carting Agents were also given licences by the Market Committee. Even so far ad the leafy Vegetables are concerned actual growers were awarded a special space where in the growers are permitted to sell their vegetable produce straight to the actual consumers. The rate of the vegetable prevalent on a particular day were displayed on the market board and at times, they were announced also on microphone. In short, because of the Regulated Market sample taking was abolished, extra fraudulent payment was also done away with, higher rates of commission were abolished, wrong methods of sale were also completely abolished and monopoly trade of 14 General Com mission Agents was also removed and the vegetable grower was free to take his produce to any Commission Agent he liked, The new market was thus a boon to the vegetable grower, but because of the short space and heavy arrivals, at times the grower was put to a loss and he was victimised and hence the Market Committee was looking forward for obtaining a convenient space for the establishments of the new market. The Market Committee head therefore approached the State Government for handing over the possession of the sufficient suitable space for the establishment and development of the regulated market.

Top

Establishment and Development of Sardar Patel Market, at JAMALPUR

A meeting was convened by the Government where in the representative of the Market Committee, Khedut Sabha and Municipal Corporation were present to find out a new space which can be allotted to the Ahmedabad Market Committee. In the initial stage, the Government took a decision to hand over the possession of the Victoria Garden for the establishment of the new market, but the Municipal Corporation could not pass a suitable resolution in that respect, and hence it was ultimately decided by the Municipal Corporation to hand over the possession of the present site outside Jamalpur Gate and opposite Calico Mills in the Baherampura Town Planning Scheme. The Municipal Corporation passed passed suitable resolution to hand over possession of that site of 14,923 Sq. Mts. To the Government and the Government there after handed over the possession of the place to the Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee for the construction of a new market. The possession of the said site was handed over to the Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee on 27-03-1973.

The Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee had then in their hands in the year 1973 / 74 a permanent fund of Rs. 9,04,719 which was not sufficient for the expenses to be incurred for the construction of a new market. Traders as a class came out with a proposal to hand over the possession of the whole site to them for the construction of a market and the Market Committee decided to construct its own building on the site from its own possible financial resources. The actual construction of the market was started on 07/08/1974 and it was completed on 20/04/1980 and the actual market at Jamalpur site started functioning in the new market on 21/04/1980.

Inauguration and opening ceremony o this market yard of Jamalpur was made by pious hands of Shri Dongreji Maharaj a completely regional devotee and the whole function had no political touch. So far as this market at present standing out side the Jamalpur Gate and Calico Mills is concerned, its total cost is Rs. 83,36,255/- and it has go a facility of about 94 shops, a big rest house for agriculturists, two canteens, two bank premises, a vast shed platform, a tower clock, general sanitary blocks, its own boring and water supply and its own light facility.

So far as this market is concerned, there are about 5 gates and two of the gates are utilized for emergency purpose. The old Rajnagar Bhagubhai Vanda market has one gate only and there fore it was very difficult for the growers to bring their produce in the market, but in this market, there are good facilities and roads of sufficient width and this market is situated on the way just coming from Bombay and also the main road leading to Saurashtra and id is also very convenient to bring agricultural produce from Sabarkantha and Banaskantha District which are about on Ahmedabad-Delhi road.

The total cost of the construction including the cost of the interest on the loan and architect. Fees etc. was about Rs. 83 lakhs. In this market there is also a common shed having approximately 16,000 Sq. Ft. covered area when the construction of the market was commenced, the Market Committee had no sufficient funds for completion of the project worth Rs. 83 lakhs, but under the able and foresighted og the Chairman of the committee, Shri Ramanlal D. Patel the market committee was in a position to obtain the possession of the Jamalpur site and complete the whole project without any financial difficulty Committee. Obtained Rs. 7.25 lakhs from the traders by way of deposit, as some General Commission Agents deposited Rs. 10,000/- with a condition to return the same to them within three years from the date of Shifting to the market at Jamalpur without any interest. The committee also obtained Rs. 10 lakhs by way of donation for the allotment of stalls so the General Commission Agents by way of priority and also obtained about Rs. 13 lakhs by way of premium and deposits for renting 32 shops on hire to the persons dealing in the commodities other then vegetable. The committee also obtained loan of Rs. 25 lakhs from The Ahmedabad District Co-oprative Bank Ltd.

Even so far as the shifting of the market yard from Rajnagar Bhagubhai Vanda to the Jamalpur market yard, some of the General Commission Agents had tried to make all possible hindrance and the matters were taken to the Gujarat High court, but those traders were no succeeded and this market out side Jamalpur Gate had will stated from 21st April 1980. In this market yard there are three Co-oprative Societies of Vegetable Growers and agriculturists and they have been granted general commission agents license and these societies are operating as a good check and control over private traders in the market.

From the inception of the application of the Market Act right from 1948, as per the byelaws of the Ahmedabad APMC, the vendor / grower used to pay the market fee, which was deducted by the commission agent from the amount of the sale price to be paid to the grower. The Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee has changed its byelaws which has come in to force from 01/11/1981 and accordingly as per the new byelaws the purchaser traded has to pay the Market Fee and that burden has now been shifted form the grower agriculturists. As per the changed byelaws the agricultural are benefited to the extent of more than Rs. 30 crores per year in the Ahmedabad Market Yard at present.

The facts, figures, statistics and data relating to the arrivals of the agriculture produce, total, values there of, average rates and yearly arrivals of various commodities of vegetable for the last five decades and also average rate of vegetable per quintal and the figures about the income of the Market committee including the income of the market fees and other income and expenditure figures are attached herewith on separate sheets and tables which will show the progress and development of the Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee right from 1948 to 2000.

Ahmedabad Agricultural Produce Market Committee was originally established under the Bombay Act of 1939 and is now constituted under the Gujarat Agricultural Produce Markets Act 1939. As per the present constitution, committee consist of 8 agriculturist members4 trade members, 2 members from co-operative Society, 1 nominee of the local authority and 2 Government nominees and thus the strength of the members of the committee is 17, out of which Chairman and Vice-chairman are elected for two years and the term of the committee is of four years from the date of the first meeting of the committee.

Top

Establishment and Development  of  New  Regulated  Market  Yard  "Shri  Chimanbhai  Jivabhai      Patel      Market Yard" at_VASNA

In the initial stage the Sardar Patel Market was quite enough for the wholesale vegetable trade, but day by day there was increase in arrivals of vegetables due to the prestigious working of the interstate famous Sardar Patel Market Yard. The committee thought it fit to shift the potatoes-onions trade else where on Turbhe pattern. Shri Ramanbhai D. Patel the then Chairman requested the AUDA (Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority) to reserve some places for market yard in its Development Plan. The Authorities accepted the proposals and reserved some places in its development plan. But due to unauthorised occupancy of those plots, committee was unable to occupy the vacant possession of these plots. Hence Shri R.D.Patel approached the Municipal Corporation authorities to allot this plot bearing S.No.53 to 59 of Village Vasna-Maktampura and they accepted the proposal and they allotted 50,000 Sq.Yds. Of land (i.e.41,805 Sq.Mts.) out of 54,033 Sq. Yds. to market committee. The valuation was done by Chief Town Planner Gujarat State, Ahmedabad and the total value of the plot was decided Rs.56,43,6757= at the rate of Rs.l35/= Sq.Mtr. The vacant possession of the land was handed over to the market committee by Municipal Corporation on 14th May 1987. Then both the Municipal Corporation authorities and the present Chairman Shri Chimanlal P. Patel approached the State Government for approval of the sale of this land and Honourable Shri Amarsinhji Vaghela the then Revenue Minister approved the same in accordance with rules and regulation. Then late Shri Chimanbhai Jivabhai Patel the then Chief Minister was invited to lay a foundation stone and "Bhumi Poojan". He performed the "Bhumi Poojan" and laid foundation stone on 12th July, 1990. The actual contraction of this market yard was started on 1st October, 1991 and it was completed on 31st December, 1995. The committee had decided to keep the name of this market yard as "Shri Chimanbhai Jivabhai Patel Market Yard" in its general meeting dated 4th June, 1994 in the sweet memory of Late Chief Minister of Gujarat State.

So far as this newly constructed market yard is concerned, it has 3 big gates, and two of these gates are for Entrance only and one gate for Exit There are 120 stalls (40' x 20') out of them 80 stalls are for wholesale Potatoes-Onion trade, and 40 stalls are for wholesale Fruits trade. There are sepaate entrance for both these trades. The stalls are very enough for the business and there is also office for clerks, office of the stall holder and Pantry and toilet block on first floor. Each stall has separate stair-case logo to the concerned office. There are separate toilet blocks at each 12 stalls for general public like purchaser, labourers and common visitors of the market yard. There is also a latest canteen facility in the market yard. There is a special Bor of the market yard for water facility and to avoid water polution, the market committee has provided the pipe line on the terace. The market committee has also taken care of air polution and for that very purpose there is a big garden and plants are there surrounding canteen. There are 19 shops for seeds, fertilizers and connected facilities to the marketing activities. There is a Tower Clock on the front of the market yard. There are 70' wide roads for commercial Traffic and 30' road for private traffic. There is also a private Telephone Exchange in the market yard.

There is a office building of the market yard having the facility of meeting hall, agriculturists rest house, V.I.P. rest house etc. There are provisions of three Banks in the office building, so the traders and agriculturists can have banking facility available in the market yard. The Honourable Central Govt. Minister for Rural Development Shri Uttambhai Patel has also visited the market yard during the construction and he has appraised it. This Market Yard was ingurated by Shri N.K. P. Salveji the then Min­ister for (Cabinet) in Central Government, New Delhi on 24th February 1996. Smt. Urmilaben Chimanbhai Patel the then Minister for energy (state) Central Government, New Delhi was the President of this inauguration function. After this on 7th July 1996 the wholesale Potatoes-Onions business was shifted from Sardar Patel Market to Shri Chimanbhai Jivabhai Patel Market. The officers from the Central Govt. have also visited this market yard and described it as the India's best market yard.

Top

Establishment of New Fruit Market Yard at Naroda.

As stated above, the market committee started to regulate fruits in shri Chimanbhai Jivabhai Patel Market Yard and the General Commission Agent (Fruits) at Naroda were also intimated to shift their wholesale business of fruits in the Newly constructed Market Yard at Shri Chimanbhai Jivabhai Patel Market, But they showed their incapacity to run their business at Shri Chimanbhai Jivabhai Patel Market Yard because their business can not run properly in this short space. The Director of Agricultural Marketing and Rural Finance, Gandhinagar, suggested the market committee to declare the New fruit Market Yard, Naroda as the Agricultural

Produce Market Committee, Sub Market Yard and to start regulation there at the initial stage, and after constructing a New Fruit Market Yard at Narol, the General Commission Agents will shift their trade without hesitation Both the Agricultural Produce Market Committee and General Commission Agents Association (Fruits) agreed upon that point and the Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Ahmedabad declared its 5lh Sub Market Yard at Naroda on 5th January 1998 and Started to regulate I it since 1st April 1998.

Proposed Food Grains Market Yard at JETALPUR

Thereafter Market Committee was very eager to see that there should be a food grain Market for the agriculturists who produce paddy, wheat pulses etc. The Market area, which includes Descroi Taluka was a producing centre for paddy, wheat and pulses etc. and committee purchased the land at Jetalpur having areas about 60,000 S. Yds. worth Rs. 1.5 Crores, The market committee completed formalities regarding the registered purchase-deeds, permission from the Govt. decided to establish Taluka – wise Market Committee, and due to that state level policy there was a bifurcation of the Market Area in to two talukas. I.r. (1) A.P.M.C., Ahmedabad comprising of its market area Municipal Corporation Limit and City Taluka. (2) A.P.M.C., Dascroi, comprising of its market area Dascroi Taluka. So now A.P.M.C., Dascroi will construct the new Food Grain Market at Jetalpur.

May God bless us for fulfilling our ambitions and to complete such ambitious project in time.

Top