Belagavi: Hundreds of farmers on Friday staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to the DC, demanding that Jai Kisan Wholesale Vegetable Market here not be closed. Recently, Buda cancelled the land use of the market for violating the conditions. Hundreds of farmers from Karnataka Yuva Rakshana Vedike of Bailhongal and those from Hannikeri village said the market benefitted them, “and hence it should not be closed”. “It is not right to close the market due to political pressure,” they claimed. The govt allowed establishment of a private market so farmers get good prices for their produce. “Now, some self-proclaimed farmer leaders are joining hands with APMC marketers and making baseless allegations against the private market,” they said. Farmer leader Jagadish Patil said the farmers are not facing any problem due to the private market. Farmer leaders Rajappa Patil, Shivaputraya Hiremath, Siddarayagouda Patil, and Iranna participated in the protest.
