APMC Act to be amended soon

Bangalore, Apr 3 (UNI) To give a fillip to the agriculture marketing system, the Karnataka Government has planned to bring in an amendment to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act to liberalise State control over agriculture marketing system, Agriculture Marketing Minister S B Darshanapur informed the Legislative Council today.

Replying to a query from Bharatiya Janata Party member Vimala Gowda during question hour, he said 20 other States have brought in amendment to the APMC Act and helped the farmers secure better price for their produces. The State Government proposed to send a study team to those States where the Act was amended and assured that whichever provisions were helpful to the farming community would be incorporated to the proposed amendment.

Mr Darshanapur said the proposed amendment to the Act was mainly aimed at attracting more investment and providing access to the global market.

The Minister said the State Government had consulted experts in the field of agriculture marketing and farmers associations over the proposed amendment and a majority of them have welcomed the State's move to strengthen the agriculture produce marketing set up.

UNI