K'taka launches agri-marketing policy

The Karnataka government today launched an agricultural marketing policy aimed at fostering competition, capacity building, bringing in transparency and ushering in an era of single unified licence. State's Minister for Horticulture and Agro Marketing Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who unveiled the document, said licensing procedures would be simplified and a single licence would be made applicable for participants.

Conditions that restrict participation would be removed to increase competition in the auction of agricultural produce, according to the policy which envisages adoption of technology required for setting up a comprehensive electronic auction system by regulated markets operating across the State for transparent price determination.
 

"A state-wide networked virtual market would be established by linking various regulated markets and warehouses, provided with assaying and grading facilities and other necessary infrastructure," the policy said. Farmers and other participants would have the choice to offer and sell in any regulated or private market in the state.