Introduction

The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Bhiwapur, Taluka Bhiwapur, District Nagpur, was established under the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act. The committee was constituted through notification No. C.O.P/56 Bhiwapur dated 20 March 1961, in accordance with Sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act, 1956, and further notified under No. A.P.M. 2067/3140/4(1) C-1 dated 12 June 1968. The actual operations of the committee commenced on 20 July 1968.

Jurisdiction

At the time of establishment, the committee’s jurisdiction extended up to 5 miles. Later, according to Notification No. C.R./R./Bhiwapur 70 dated 30 January 1971, under Section 4 Sub-section 3 of the Act 1963, the jurisdiction was expanded to cover the Bhiwapur Panchayat Samiti area. Subsequently, the Panchayat area was converted into a Taluka. As per the Forest and Revenue Department Notification No. R.E.M./2485/4497/C.R.144-M10 dated 29 July 1985, the Bhiwapur Taluka was reorganized and the jurisdiction was limited to include 137 villages.

Regulated Agricultural Commodities

Within the above jurisdiction, all regulated agricultural commodities such as chili, food grains, poultry, cattle, goats and sheep, cotton, leafy vegetables, fruits and vegetables, cattle fodder, betel leaves, fuel wood, pulses, turmeric, sunflower, safflower, etc. are regulated. The main market yard hosts regular trading activities for these commodities. The livestock market is held on government land and remains under the supervision of the committee.

Market Yard

The committee received 6.46 acres of land free of cost from the government for the main market yard at Bhiwapur and additionally purchased 9 acres of land. For the secondary market at Besur, 5.5 acres of land were donated by Gram Panchayat Besur. Similarly, 7.75 acres of land were purchased at Nand for the sub-market yard. The Besur sub-market was established on 28/11/1983 and the Nand sub-market was established on 16/11/1996.

Board of Directors

At the time of establishment, the committee’s Board of Directors was government-appointed for a term of 3 years. Considering the committee’s operations and development, the tenure was extended to 5 years and an elected Board of Directors came into existence. Elections for the new Board for the term 2023–2024 to 2027–2028 were held on 06/05/2023. The first meeting of the Board was held on 24/05/2023, in which Hon. Shri Balu Murlidharji Ingole was appointed as Chairman and Hon. Shri Chandrashekhar Laxmanrao Dhakunakar as Vice-Chairman. They are currently overseeing the committee’s operations.

Transport Facilities

The Bhiwapur main market yard is located adjacent to the bus stand on the National Highway connecting Nagpur, Nagbhid, and Chandrapur. Therefore, transportation facilities for farmers and traders are highly convenient.

Publicity

Every year, the committee publishes advertisements in daily newspapers regarding market activities. On market days, announcements about market transactions are made through loudspeakers. In addition, market rates are shared with farmers through mobile phones and WhatsApp farmer groups.

Warehouse

The market yard has two warehouses with a capacity of 200 metric tons each. To ensure that farmers in Bhiwapur Taluka receive maximum market prices for their produce and to meet their storage needs, the committee has constructed a warehouse with a capacity of 1000 metric tons. This warehouse is utilized under the Agricultural Produce Pledge Scheme, enabling farmers to obtain better prices for their produce. Due to the effective implementation of this scheme, the Bhiwapur Agricultural Produce Market Committee secured the third rank in Maharashtra under Category “B” for the Agricultural Produce Pledge Scheme Award for the year 2017–2018.

Committee on the Path of Progress

The Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Bhiwapur, is progressing continuously. Since it is a trusted committee among farmers, the committee’s income has also increased. The committee owns two warehouses of 200 metric tons each, one warehouse of 1000 metric tons, 6 platform sheds, 2 open platforms, water filters providing clean and cold drinking water in the market yard, and CCTV cameras installed throughout the market yard.

To provide better facilities to farmers and to prevent agricultural produce from falling onto the ground and mixing with soil, the committee has constructed cement roads between the platforms and 15-foot-wide cement concrete areas around all sides of the platform sheds. This has made it easier to collect produce that falls during measurement and handling.

The Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Bhiwapur, is especially known for “Bhiwapuri Chili.” Bhiwapur is famous for its chili production, which enjoys a strong reputation across the country. Due to Bhiwapuri Chili, Bhiwapur has earned a place of pride on the global map, which is a matter of great honor. Along with Bhiwapuri Chili, high-yield varieties of chili are cultivated extensively in Bhiwapur Taluka. Since Bhiwapuri Chili has received GI (Geographical Indication) recognition, it is a matter of pride for Bhiwapur as well as for the Market Committee.