Farmers announce massive protest in Belagavi for APMC market

Belagavi: Various farmers' organisations have announced staging a massive protest in Belagavi on Sept 24, demanding the closure of a private wholesale vegetable market and strengthening the govt-run market of the APMC. The clamour of farmers has grown for the closure of a private vegetable market in Sankeshwar.The state govt is struggling to strengthen Belagavi APMC after the withdrawal of the amendment of the APMC Act. The opening of the private market on the outskirts of Belagavi has affected the business of the APMC market. Traders who had 132 stalls in the APMC premises have been in trouble due to the slump in business.Being the second-largest market among the 167 APMCs in the state, Belagavi APMC had a daily turnover of more than Rs 1.5 crore. However, since the opening of the private market in 2022, most buyers and sellers are doing business there. Therefore, vegetables are not available at the market in Belagavi APMC. Traders who had bought shops on the APMC premises are facing a huge financial crisis.Akin to the Belagavi APMC market, the private vegetable market in Sankeshwar too has challenged the govt APMC market and farmers are fed up with the issues related to the private market. For that reason, they staged a massive protest on Thursday. Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha Mattu Hasiru Sene raised their voice in favour of farmers through a massive protest in Sankeshwar.Belagavi deputy commissioner Mohammad Roshan has given a verbal order that the private vegetable market of Sankeshwar should be immediately shifted to the govt agricultural produce market. According to the rules of sale of agricultural produce of the state govt, the private vegetable market will be shifted to APMC and the irregularities committed in the private vegetable market so far will be investigated.Superintendent of Police Dr Bhima Shankar Guled, who visited Sankeshwar on Thursday, has also given strict instructions that the sale of agricultural products should be carried out within the legal framework.KH Guruprasad, secretary of APMC Belagavi, said that in 2014, the govt allowed the opening of a private agriculture market. So, now there is a provision in the law to check whether the market is running according to the rules. If a mistake is found, the authorities can take action, he said.Sidagouda Modagi, state president of Bharatiya Krishik Samaj, said that the flower, fruit, and vegetable markets in Belagavi are in private hands. Exploitation of farmers in private agricultural produce markets continues. The farmers will hold a protest in Belagavi on Sept 24 and submit a memorandum to the govt through the deputy commissioner. Necessary action should be taken to save APMC, thereby resolving the plight of farmers and traders.