Maharashtra traders resume grain buying after govt assurance on MSP rule

The traders had boycotted produce auctions for a week, after the state govt indicated it would penalise buying below MSP with fines and imprisonment

Traders resumed foodgrain auctions at the strike-hit Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) wholesale markets (mandis) in Maharashtra after the state government assured them it would not take action if the purchase price went below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

They had boycotted produce auctions for a week, after the state government indicated it would penalise buying below the MSP with fines and imprisonment. The government later denied taking such a decision.

Truckloads of foodgrain piled up in the APMC mandis of Ahmednagar, Baramati, and Latur, among others, awaiting auction participants.

"Part of auctions started today (on Thursday), after the state