Pune: Farmers arriving at the main market at Marketyard in Gultekdi, as well as the submarkets, need not show any identity document or license at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Pune.

BJ Deshmukh, administrator at the APMC Pune appealed to farmers on Monday to come to the market without any fear. He said, "Some farmers have a misunderstanding that a license is needed to sell their produce at the market. If they face any problem or difficulty at the market, they can directly contact the APMC office."

On the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak, the APMC has allowed the only wholesale purchase of produce at the market to avoid unnecessary crowding. Hence, the license has been made mandatory only for traders coming to the market. Only license-holder traders are being given entry in the market. The license is meant for traders only who have come for purchasing produce at the market. However, farmers have no restrictions for selling their produce in the market.

"Vehicles transporting farm produce including vegetables, fruits are allowed to enter the Marketyard premises in Gultekdi area everyday night 9 pm to next day early morning at 4am. Apart from Marketyard, the markets at Moshi, Khadki, Uttamnagar and Manjari are functional with everyday buying and selling of the produce. Farmers can directly bring their produce for selling at the main market as well as submarkets," Deshmukh clarified.

The main market at the Marketyard received 13,800 quintals of farm produce through 480 vehicles. The Moshi market received farm produce of 3,000 quintals from 190 vehicles, Khadki submarket received 100 quintals in 8 vehicles and Uttamnagar submarket 50 quintals in 14 vehicles.

BJ Deshmukh, Administrator, Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Pune, said, “There is a rumour in the market that farmers would need a license to bring their produce for selling in the APMC. This rumour has created fear among some farmers. We would like to make it clear that farmers don't need any license to bring their produce.”