Trading activity gained momentum at the APMC wholesale vegetable market in Belagavi.
BELAGAVI
The Belagavi Agricultural Produce Market Committee’s (APMC) wholesale vegetable market roared back to life on Wednesday, following the State Marketing Department’s cancellation of Jai Kisan Private Wholesale Vegetable Market’s trading licence.
After lying shut since 3 January 2022, the APMC yard has reopened at full capacity, reviving activity after nearly three years and eight months.
From early morning, vegetables and agricultural produce poured into the market from Belagavi taluka, surrounding districts, and neighbouring regions.
Trucks, tempos, and tractors were welcomed with flowers by APMC officials and farmer leaders, creating an atmosphere of celebration. Officials reported that nearly 75–80% of farmers participated in trading on the first day itself, signalling a strong comeback.
Retail vendors had resumed limited sales on Tuesday, but wholesale trading officially resumed on Wednesday, drawing large crowds of farmers, traders, and buyers.
Vehicles loaded with fresh produce were quickly dispatched to Goa, reinstating Belagavi’s role as a major supplier to the neighbouring state. Traders actively purchased produce at fair prices, while farmers expressed satisfaction with the facilities provided.
The APMC yard now offers clean drinking water, toilets, two canteens, the Rayat Bhavan rest area for farmers, parking space, and wide premises that ensure smooth traffic flow without congestion. Shops in the market are divided across four blocks, with about 100 stalls already operational and another 150 awaiting allotment to interested traders.
An APMC official said the reopening had received an “overwhelming response” and efforts would continue to bring back all farmers and traders to ensure the market functions better than before.
Farmers and activists who had long demanded the reopening hailed the move. “We had to fight in court and resist administrative hurdles to restore the APMC market. Now that it has restarted, our struggle has paid off,” said activists Sujeet Mulgund and Rajeev Topannavar.
Traders added that even former participants of Jai Kisan Market are considering shifting to the APMC yard. With renewed enthusiasm among farmers, traders, and officials, the Belagavi APMC wholesale vegetable market has regained its vibrancy as a key agricultural hub.
Tension prevails over demands to restart Jai Kisan Market
BELAGAVI: Tension prevailed after a section of farmers demanded the restarting of the Jai Kisan Wholesale Vegetable Market in Belagavi.
Karnataka’s Director of Agricultural Marketing had cancelled the Jai Kisan licence on September 15. Following this order, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammed Roshan directed the wholesalers to stop trading within 24 hours, by 6 pm on Tuesday.
Farmers supporting the Jai Kisan Wholesale Vegetable Market staged protests in the Deputy Commissioner’s compound.
Expressing his inability, DC Mohammed Roshan said authorities are bound by law and that an effort would be initiated to strike a balance.
