Maharashtra traders defer October 2 non-cooperation drive against APMC market cess

The Maharashtra State Vyapari Kruti Samiti has unanimously decided to put on hold, for now, the proposed statewide non-cooperation movement against the APMC market cess, which was to begin on October 2, 2026. The committee cited the interest of farmers, the severe drought across Maharashtra and the approaching festivals as the reasons.

The committee includes major trader bodies such as the Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade (CAMIT), the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM), the Grain Rice and Oil Merchants Association (GROMA) and the Pune Merchants Chamber (PMC). They held an online review meeting at 9.30 pm on September 30, 2026. Trader leaders, office-bearers and representatives of organisations linked to Maharashtra's 305 APMC market yards attended in large numbers.

Representatives from different parts of the state set out their concerns at length. Traders working in the market yards expressed strong resentment over the continued collection of the market cess. The representatives said market committees earn a great deal from the cess, but traders do not get roads, water, drainage, sanitation, infrastructure, facilities and essential services in proportion.

Earlier, at a state-level traders' conference in Kolhapur on August 4, 2026, it was unanimously decided that if the market cess was not abolished by October 2, 2026, traders in Maharashtra would begin a peaceful non-cooperation movement from Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. They would neither collect the cess nor deposit it with the respective market committees.

However, after hearing the views of trader representatives from across Maharashtra at the September 30 online meeting, the situation was reconsidered from social, humanitarian and farmers' perspectives. Farmers in the state are already facing heavy financial hardship because of drought. Major festivals such as Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali are near. Had the agitation begun, it could have affected the movement, arrival, purchase and sale of farm produce. Farmers would have borne the greatest burden of such disruption, and their difficulties would have grown.

The Maharashtra State Vyapari Kruti Samiti therefore decided to postpone the proposed non-cooperation movement from October 2 for now, putting farmers' interest above all and seeking to ensure their troubles do not increase in this difficult period.

The committee made it clear that the decision should not be read as traders backing away from their stand. According to it, this is a responsible, sensitive and socially minded decision to give priority to farmers in the present circumstances.

"Farmers and traders are not rivals; they are complementary pillars of the economy. When farmers are battling a natural crisis, it is the social responsibility of the trading community to ensure their suffering does not increase. That is why the non-cooperation movement proposed from October 2 is being postponed for now. Even so, it should in no way be taken to mean that the trading community has withdrawn from its demand to abolish the market cess."

The committee reiterated that its demand for the complete abolition of the APMC market cess remains as strong as before. Talks and continuous follow-up with the state government, the marketing department and the officials concerned will continue with renewed vigour.

The meeting also said that, given changes in the tax structure, trade practices and market trends, a full review of the APMC system is necessary. It said a modern, transparent, effective and practical framework should be created that is fair to farmers, traders and consumers alike.

The committee appealed to the state government to take the traders' restraint, social responsibility and farmer-first approach in a positive spirit, and to begin meaningful talks with trader representatives without delay, so that a lasting, just and positive solution to the market cess issue is found.

Talks and follow-up with the government will continue and the situation will be reviewed constantly. If a decision on the market cess does not come as expected, trader organisations in Maharashtra will meet again and decide the future course and strategy of the agitation.

"The agitation is postponed for now; the demand to abolish the market cess stands!"

The trading community of Maharashtra will continue to press for abolition of the market cess with unity and firmness, balancing the interests of farmers, consumers and trade.

"If the farmer survives, the market survives; if the market survives, trade survives; and if trade remains strong, Maharashtra's economy will remain strong." - Maharashtra State Vyapari Kruti Samiti