Who are Arhtiyas?

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About Arhtiyas:

“Arhtiyas” refers to commission agents or middlemen in the agricultural sector.

Primary Functions:

Procurement: Arhtiyas procure agricultural produce from farmers either directly from the farm or at local agricultural markets (mandis).
Financial Services: They often provide credit to farmers to meet their immediate financial needs, including inputs for the next cropping season or personal expenses.
Storage: Arhtiyas may offer warehousing facilities for the storage of agricultural commodities.
Marketing: They facilitate the sale of agricultural produce to wholesale buyers, such as government agencies or private traders, on behalf of the farmers.

Commission:

Arhtiyas charge a commission for their services, usually a percentage of the transaction value. The commission rates can vary depending on the region, crop, and prevailing market conditions.
They play a significant role in the traditional agricultural marketing system, particularly in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Arhtiyas are an integral part of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) system in India.

Q) What is the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)?

Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) is a statutory market committee constituted by a State Government in respect of trade in certain notified agricultural or horticultural or livestock products, under the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act issued by that state government.

Source: Bitter Tussle in Himachal over Govt Decision to Sell Apples by Weight in Mandis as Arhtiyas Announce Strike