Seventeen private Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) in India will be subject to audits by the state agriculture marketing board following complaints by farmers that needs aren't being met, The Times of India reported.

The audits seek to resolve claims the committees have not been functioning and are not purchasing produce as intended.

The process will also revise the policy on private investment in the retail market.

APMCs serve to help farmers sell their produce and negotiate prices. In practice, such committees run markets so that traders and marketers can work with farmers.

The investigating board is a state-run organization that issues all retail licensing to sell fruit and vegetables. In 2007, such licensing was extended to allow private actors to run wholesale markets under the supervision of produce marketing committees.

Managing director of Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board Kishor Toshniwal said many committees appear to be falling short of their duties.

"There was no mechanism to keep a track of development and routine functioning of those APMCs. The board thus decided to audit its work and found that some of them were not even functioning," Toshniwal told The Times of India.

"The board has also issued license for direct marketing to many retail companies that are selling vegetables, fruits and food grain from their existing retail outlets. We will also do an audit of these companies, their expectations from the government and revise the policy of marketing accordingly."

www.freshfruitportal.com