Date:16/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/16/stories/2005051609810400.htm

Karnataka

Farmers to oppose move on Act

Special Correspondent

GULBARGA: Farmers and trade organisations have come together to oppose the move of the State Government to fall in line with the directions of the Union Government to replace the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act with another law to open up the agricultural sector for the foreign direct investment (FDI) and introduce the concept of contract farming in the country.

The president of the Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha (KPRS), affiliated to the CPI (M), Maruti Manpade, on Sunday criticising the reported statement of the Agriculture Minister, K. Srinivasa Gowda, that the Government would introduce the model act circulated by the Union Government to States to replace the APMC Act, said this move was primarily to help the multinational companies to have a complete say in the agricultural scenario of the country.

Support

He said that the KPRS was in touch with the various farmers and social organisations such as the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha led by Puttanaiah and Nanjundaswamy factions and the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti to launch a united struggle against the proposed Bill along with the traders' organisations such as the Karnataka Grains and Merchants Association, Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) and other such organisations.

Struggle

Mr. Manpade said that the plan to unite all the farmer and trade organisations and launch a unified struggle against the State Government's move on the APMC Act had been set in motion.

Political parties interested in safeguarding the independence of the agricultural sector should join the struggle, he said.

Referring to confusing statements of the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, who initially stated that the Janata Dal (S) would oppose replacing the APMC Act and later amending his statement to support the new Bill, Mr. Manpade said Mr. Deve Gowda who sees himself as a representative of farmers, should come out more clearly on his stand on the Bill.

BJP stand

On the Opposition expressed to the Bill by the BJP, Mr. Manpade said although the National Democratic Alliance Government was responsible for first moving the Bill in Parliament, the farmer and trade organisations would accept the support of the BJP taking it as a change of mind.