Karnataka seeks farmers' inputs on APMC amendment

The Karnataka government plans to consult farmers and traders before amending the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act. The amendments are intended to provide better protection and facilities to farmers and traders at APMC yards, a senior state government official said.

The state government is also seeking to initiate a consulting programme at the divisional level and then at the district level.

"As part of the district-level meeting, consultations with concerned farmers' groups and traders' associations will be held. This will be followed by grassroot-level initiatives," he added.

The Karnataka government is planning to amend the Act to allow private entities in the co-operative and corporate sectors to build and operate wholesale distribution centres.

"This is being done to encourage inter-market competition and provide additional alternative outlets to farmers to sell their produce, and sale of such agricultural products purchased wholesale," said the official.

Suggestions to allow different agricultural marketing systems through grower co-operatives, markets built and operated by the private sector, forward markets, futures exchanges and electronic auction houses outside the purview of the APMC Act is also under consideration.