From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Nov 23: The launch of online agricultural marketing in Karnataka during the last three years since 2014 has succeeded in transaction of farm commodities worth Rs 71,624 crore (89 lakh lots) in the State.

Karnataka’s Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told the Legislative Assembly on Thursday that undeclared transactions in APMCs have been reduced owing to a unified market platform (UMP).

Replying to a question from BJP member CT Ravi, he said farmers have fetched 38 per cent higher prices through online trading in 157 agricultural produce marketing committees (APMCs).

Commodity transactions in APMCs have been increased by 32 per cent, he said.

However, online payment to farmers has been suspended following a protest in the Gadag APMC.

Steps would be taken to commence online payment to farmers, Byre Gowda said.

The UMP had contributed to the significant rise in prices of copra, groundnut, toor, turmeric, Bengal gram, arecanut, dry chilli, and green gram.

The UMP through the Rashtriya e-Market Services (ReMS), a joint venture of the State and NCDEX Spot Exchange Ltd., has addressed the concerns of small and marginal farmers, who hitherto struggled for a better price, the minister said.

Karnataka’s model was showcased at the national level and several states adopted the model.

The minister, who replied in the absence of Agricultural Marketing Minister S S Mallikarjun, said a meeting of legislators and officers would be held for addressing all grievances of farmers.