Karnataka: Yatnal Pushes For Twice-A-Week Online Dry Grape Trading
Traders from across the country should be encouraged to participate in both online and offline trading: MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal
VIJAYAPURA: To ensure transparency and protect farmers from unfair trade practices, Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has stressed online trading as the primary mode for the sale of dry grapes.
Addressing a meeting of grape growers at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) premises, Yatnal directed officials to ensure that online trading is conducted at least twice a week, while offline trading takes place once a week on a temporary basis.
He said the online trading platform had been introduced for the benefit of grape growers and would help prevent complaints of manipulation in weighing, unnecessary handling of produce during auctions and other practices that could result in losses to farmers.
Yatnal said the online system would also help farmers save the two per cent commission they had been paying under the existing trading system and conducting transactions under the supervision of the APMC would ensure proper records of trade and help the government collect the correct cess and GST.
Yatnal said traders from across the country should be encouraged to participate in both online and offline trading. He expressed confidence that the online trading platform would support the proposed 140-acre Wine Park being developed in Vijayapura by creating a stronger marketing system for grape growers.
The meeting unanimously resolved that dry grape trading would be carried out twice a week through the online platform and once a week through the offline system at the online trading market established under the National Horticulture Mission.
Former Grape and Wine Board chairman MS Rudragouda, Grape Growers' Association state president Abhaykumar Nandrekar, district president MS Loni, APMC Administrator R Adappa, Secretary Allabaksh Bijapur, besides grape growers and traders, attended the meeting held on Tuesday.
