Karnataka - Belgaum   

Traders continue indefinite strike

Staff Correspondent

Local traders and agents exploit us, say farmers

BELGAUM: Trading at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) was affected for the second consecutive day as the traders continued the indefinite strike called by various trade organisations in the State on Thursday.

The traders are opposing the Union and State Governments' move to amend the APMC Act.

The amendment would open the doors for multi-national companies (MNCs) to enter both the wholesale and retail agriculture produce markets in the country. The traders said both the Centre and State governments were more concerned about protecting the interests of the MNCs rather than the native traders. They want to amend the APMC Act in spite of nationwide resistance to the move, they said.

However, though the Karnataka Rajya Raith Sangh has also opposed the move to amend the Act, some farmers sought to draw their attention towards exploitation by local traders at various APMCs in the State and other parts of the country. Even now the traders had resorted to strike to protect their own interests owing to threats from MNCs. The traders never talked about the interests of farmers who continue to be exploited in various ways by traders and commission agents.

Yet, the farmers cannot welcome MNCs, which promised rosy prices in the beginning and then start exploiting after taking control over the market.

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Traders continue indefinite strike

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