Conflict likely to affect supplies of vegetables to Goa
A large gathering of protesting farmers at the Rani Chennamma Circle in Belagavi.
BELAGAVI
The conflict between the APMC wholesale vegetable market and the privately run Jai Kisan wholesale vegetable market intensified on Tuesday, as hundreds of traders and farmers staged a massive protest in Belagavi.
A large gathering of agitators blocked the busy College Road at Rani Chennamma Circle to demand the reopening of the Jai Kisan market, which was shut down last week by district authorities citing technical reasons. Traffic movement was thrown out of gear from 12 pm to 4 pm, forcing police to divert vehicles, severely impacting city commuters and travellers heading towards Goa and other destinations.
Though trading at the APMC wholesale market was normal, the escalating conflict that has taken a political turn is likely to affect supplies of vegetables to Goa and other areas in the coming days if the protesting factions do not call off the protests. Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan, who later addressed the protesters, announced that retail trade of vegetables would be allowed at the Jai Kisan market until the Karnataka High Court hears the plea against the cancellation of its trading licence on Wednesday.
The controversy surrounding the Jai Kisan Wholesale Vegetable Market is not new. Established near the Pune–Bengaluru National Highway during the Covid-19 period, the market has faced allegations since its inauguration in January 2022. Farmer leader Siddagouda Moudagi, who is spearheading the agitation for the shifting of the wholesale vegetable market at APMC, had accused wholesalers of exploiting farmers by offering low procurement prices while reaping large margins from retailers, particularly in Goa.
Following sustained farmer agitation, the Karnataka State Marketing Department had cancelled the trading licence of Jai Kisan last week, prompting the district administration to shut the market. The closure has triggered unrest among a section of traders and farmers who back the Jai Kisan wholesale market, leading to Tuesday’s massive protest and raising fears of further escalation as the matter now rests before the Karnataka High Court.
The issue, however, has taken a political turn. While the ruling Congress party has sided with the APMC market, citing legal grounds, opposition BJP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Iranna Kadadi and Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil, extended open support to the agitating traders and farmers.
