The farmers in Maharashtra have begun their indefinite strike from Thursday, which could impact the supply of fruits and vegetables to large urban centers if the strike continues.

In large cities such as Mumbai and Pune, there was a small dip in the number of trucks reaching the market yards, which are controlled by Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC).The farmers orgainsations are pressurizing the Maharashtra Government for blanket waiver of farm loans, cheap electricity and higher prices for their produce.

Secretary Prashant Jagtap, of the Ghavuk Bhajipala Mahasangh, which is the federation body of vegetable traders body in Mumbai said that at the APMC market in Navi Mumbai there was a marginal impact on trade as 453 trucks out of the usual 550 trucks, ferried fresh fruits and vegetables to the market. There was no major price rise in the market, he said.

However, there were incidents of farmers emptying containers of milk and strewing vegetables in the Shridi and Nanded. Police had to resort to baton charge to control the crowds in Nashik, where farmers threw pomegranates and onions on the streets. Member of Parliament Raju Shetty, who is the supremo of Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathan, a farmers organisation, led a march from Pune to the Governor Bungalow in Mumbai for for better prices to farmers produce.

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