Karnataka firm on APMC law, farmers plan stir

Belagavi: The state government has decided not to repeal the amendment to the Karnataka Agriculture Produce Marketing (APMC) law in the ongoing assembly session in Belagavi prompting the farmers to plan a Delhi-like stir in the state. The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha-Hasiru Sene announced that it would lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
Cooperation minister ST Somashekhar said the state will continue with the Karnataka Agriculture Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Act, 2020 that curtails powers of local Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) and allows farmers to sell their produce outside APMCs.
“The present law is in the interest of farmers as it gives freedom to sell their produce anywhere inside or outside APMC markets. The central policy will not have a bearing on the state law and we won’t change it,” he said.
Soon after Modi’s announcement that the Centre will repeal all the three farm laws, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had said he’d await instructions from party top brass and then take a decision. “The state government promised us that the amended law would be repealed in the Belagavi session. It has gone back on the promise, prompting us to launch the agitation,” said Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, president, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha-Hasiru Sene.
In May 2020, the state government had promulgated an ordinance to amend the APMC (Regulation and Development) Act that envisages opening up the agricultural market.