The Indian state of Maharashtra plans to ease regulations so farmers can bypass middlemen and sell directly to consumers.

According to a report by national news service NDTV, the Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board has told all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) that in one month all notified fruit and vegetable categories in their schedules would be decontrolled.

The state government has given APMCs in the area until then to voice their concerns.

While the government claims the deregulation is intended to reduce the cost of fresh produce by cutting down on profiteering by middlemen, those affected say it is to pave the way for multi-brand retailers to move into the market.

Narendra Patil, leader of the APMC mathadi union, said that if the state decontrols notified fruits and vegetables from the APMC market, over 20,000 people - including labourers, transporters, retailers, and traders - would lose their jobs. “Also, farmers will not benefit much, as they do not have enough facilities to carry out direct selling,” he added.

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