Traders vow to continue strike against amendment to APMC Act

Bangalore, Aug 3 (UNI) The traders of agriculture produce in Karnataka have decided to intensify their agitaton, even as the trading activities in 144 Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yards remained suspended for the third day, demanding the State Government withdraw the recent amendment to APMC Act.

The agitators were of the view that the amendment would pave way for entry of multinationals into the agri market. It would also lead to contract farming, affecting the farmers.

Reiterating their demand, the agitators today vowed to intensify their agitation which began on August one, and not withdraw is till government conceed the demand.

The agitation has severely affected the labourers who were working in the APMC yards. The prices of vegetable and fruits have shot up after the agitation began.

The situation was likely to go worse and supply was expected to be badly hit if the wholesale traders continued their shut off call, officials said.

Speaking to newspersons here, Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) Vice-President D Muralidhar said farmer associations and fruit and vegetable vendors had joined the stir launched by the traders against the amendment.

The recently passed amendment to the APMC Act allows private companies to buy agricultural produce directly from the farmers and the grower will not need to bring his produce to APMC or Regulated Market Committee (RMC) yards anymore.

Major wholesale markets remained closed in all parts of the state and if the strike continued the prices of perishable commodities are likely to skyrocket, traders said.

Meanwhile the Agriculture Marketing Minister Sharanabasappa Darshanapur who rejected the demands of the traders, said the government would not withdraw the amendments brought to the Act at any cost. ''The amendment will help farmers get better price for their produce and this was done to help the farmers. The government will not withdraw the amendments,'' he said.

Mr Muralidhar said the Federation was aware of the difficulties faced by the people but traders had no other go but to continue their agitation as their life was at stake. ''The amendment will put most of the trades out of work as multinational companies and big corporate bodies will take over the wholesale trade,'' he added.

FKCCI got a shot in the arm as Karnataka Rajya Ryota Sangha and few other farmer bodies apart from Janata Dal(U) extended support to their agitation today.

UNI