Minister for Labour and Ballari district in-charge Santosh Lad has stressed the need for the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) to create a platform for online trading for the benefit of farmers.
Speaking after inaugurating a ₹ 1.20-crore multi-grain processing unit and a 5,000-tonne capacity godown at the APMC Yard here on Monday, Mr. Lad said that at present e-auction had been introduced for trading in foodgrains. Making use of information and technology and by improving infrastructure, the APMCs could introduce online trading so that farmers could get optimum benefit for their produce.
He underlined the need for the APMC to allocate certain area in the spacious godown for farmers to store agricultural produce and sell it when prices go up.
Stating that the Siddaramaiah government was committed to ensuring the welfare of farmers by announcing various programmes, Mr. Lad pointed out that the government was equally committed to ensuring the welfare of the working class and the poor.
“The State government has come out with a scheme to provide provident fund to 1.5 million people working as labour and domestic help, head-load workers, tailors such mechanics. The scheme will be extended to hamals in APMCs, if they come forward to contribute ₹ 100 a month or even more for their own benefit. The government on its part will remit ₹ 100 per person per month for all those who enrol,” he said and added, “Enrol yourself to avail of the benefits.”
Allum Veerbhadrappa, MLC and senior Congress leader, wanted the APMC to consider establishing a market for chillis.
Mr. Lad performed bhumi puja for the construction of 21 classrooms at the government pre-university college for girls in the city.
