JOIN US“The privatisation of markets will help farmers to fix prices of produce themselves, in future,” said Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the MG-6 Fruits and Vegetal Wholesale Market at Kappalamodagu in Mulbagal on Wednesday. The market has been established on lines of Japanese model.
“Initially, there were a lot of rumours about the private markets, however, there was no truth in them. The private sector should take steps to open markets like these in every taluk of the State,” he added.
ByreGowda said that private players were able to enter the market sector, owning to the amendments made to the RMC Act by the Centre under the leadership of Sharad Power, six years ago. Privatisation will pave way for direct purchase of produce from farmers and will put an end to exploitation by the middlemen, he added.
He criticised the argument that small and petty traders would be affected by the privatisation of markets.
ByreGowda lauded the efforts of M Gopal and Gangi Reddy, who have established the market. “The government will provide all the necessary help to them,” he added.
Former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly H D Kumaraswamy who inaugurated the market, said that he completely supported the implementation of permanent irrigation project for providing water to parched Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts. Politics should not come in the midst of pro-people work.
Further, one should develop neutral thinking while working for farmers, he added.
Union Minister Muniyappa, who spoke on the occasion said that though it was six years since the amendments were made to the RMC Act, it had not been utilised comprehensively. The Centre took the decision to provide better price for farmers’ produce.
He said that Centre should take initiative to give minimum support price to all the crops in the country and not just to rice, ragi and jowar, to name a few.
Expressing concern over the fast depletion of groundwater table in the district, Srinivaspur MLA K R Ramesh Kumar said that around 25 years ago, the average rainfall in the district was 744 mm while now it had reduced to 300 mm.
“It is almost decades since the tanks in the district have been filled to the brim,” he added.