UNI

Bangalore, Jan 4: About 4.5 lac traders in Karnataka will down their shutters as part of the state-wide bandh tomorrow, to protest against the State government's move to open up the agri-commodity business to private players by bringing an amendment to the APMC Act.

Speaking to UNI here, Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) President R C Purohit said that the JD(S)-BJP coalition government, under pressure from the Union government, had decided to amend the existing Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees Act of 1966, to pave the way for private players including MNCs to buy produce directly from farmers or set up wholesale markets anywhere, with the prior permission from the government.

This would adversely affect the interests of traders and others depending on it. This might result in the 144 APMC markets in the state, which traded in 118 notified commodities redundant, he feared.

According to the draft rules the amendment would result in the government inviting private players to trade in commodities and allow them to buy commodities directly from the farmers.

Demanding a level playing field for the traders, Bangalore Wholesale Foodgrains and Pulses Merchants' Association President R C Lahoti said that the trade and industry in the State strongly opposed privatisation of the market and demanded the state government call the traders for discussion before effecting any amendment.

Hectic activity was seen in various wholesale markets in the State in view of tomorrow's bandh. Heavy demand was witnessed for commodities, mainly pulses, potato and onion, in the Yeshwantpur market in the city on Thursday.