From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 15: Stoutly defending the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act through an ordinance, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the proposed changes will help the farmers to get remunerative prices for the agricultural produce as it will enable them to sell their commodities anywhere to get remunerative prices.

Responding to criticism from Opposition Congress and JD(S) as well as leaders of famers against the proposed changes to the APMC Act through the ordinance as 'anti-farmer', the Chief Minister declared, "Many are misleading farmers on this issue and the amendments. But I reiterate that being the Chief Minister sworn in the name of farmers, I will not sit in this chair for a minute if the farmers interests are affected.’’

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru after a meeting with Cabinet ministers and senior officials, Yediyurappa asserted that "the intention of my government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that farmers should be protected from market trends,’’ and claimed that “This amendment will indirectly help farmers in doubling their income by 2022, the dream the Prime Minister.’’

Changes in the APMC Act have not diluted the functioning of APMCs and farmers have every right to sell their produce in the APMC markets or outside, he said.

Yediyurappa said farmers have been given the freedom of “my crop, my right” and nobody has power to question it.

“As much as 99 % of farmers will welcome changes in the Act,’’ he asserted and declared that he would never allow farmers to suffer.

Recalling his involvement in the struggle for the cause of farmers, Yediyurappa said the agricultural marketing has been opened to private sector more than a decade ago and several MNCs have involved in trading of commodities.

A few years ago, the State has rolled out Unified Markets Platform (UMP) covering all APMCs and online trading was going on. The changes in the Act would benefit farmers in fetching remunerative prices for their produce and enable “doubling income,’’ a vision envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“No injustice to farmers and our motto is farmers first,’’ said Yediyurappa, who was sworn-in as the Chief Minister in the name of farmers by sporting his trademark green shawl.

The Chief Minister disclosed that he had already spoken to Opposition leaders and representatives of farmers and cleared all their doubts about changes in the Act.