Bengaluru: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the
Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Bill 2020, in the absence of Opposition parties.
The Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Bill 2020 is the State version of the Central legislation to modify the APMC law.
The amended law allows farmers to sell their produce outside APMC markets.
Co-operation Minister S.T. Somashekar tabled the Bill in the Assembly. He said the Bill was passed in the State Legislative Council and the same need to be passed in the State Assembly.
Araga Jnanendra (BJP) termed efforts are made to portray this Bill as anti-farmer but it was pro-farmer and welfare-oriented. “I am an areca farmer and I was paying 3 per cent commission and cess. This was making a difference of Rs.1 lakh per truck load,” he said.