CM Shivakumar interacts with farmers & traders in surprise visit to Yeshwanthpur APMC Market

Bengaluru, Sep 8 (AHN) Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar made a surprise early-morning visit to the Yeshwanthpur APMC market here on Tuesday and interacted with farmers, traders and vendors to understand the problems they face.

During his visit, Shivakumar personally enquired with farmers about the functioning of the market and asked whether they were facing any instances of cheating in the weighing of their produce.

The farmers brought several issues to the Chief Minister's attention as they voiced their grievances. Some farmers complained that Agriculture Minister Narendra Swamy had not been visiting the market to hear their concerns and address the problems they were facing.

The traders and farmers also highlighted the lack of adequate basic infrastructure and other difficulties at the market. The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to their concerns and assured them that steps would be taken to address the problems faced by farmers and traders.

Shivakumar assured the farmers that the government would take appropriate measures to ensure the smooth functioning of the Yeshwanthpur APMC market and safeguard the interests of farmers.

The farmers expressed hope that the Chief Minister's direct intervention would help resolve their long-pending issues.

After the inspection, CM Shivakumar posted a video of the surprise visit on his X handle, captioning it: "Responding to the Voice of Farmers and Traders".

Chief Minister Shivakumar had last week conducted a drought survey across four taluks of the Bagalkot district and inspected farmers’ fields, observing that crops had not developed properly in any of the areas he visited there and the government would examine measures to provide relief to farmers affected by crop failure.

After inspecting fields in Shirur village, he noted that sunflower, chilli, horse gram, and pigeon pea crops had suffered extensive damage.

He said the government was assessing drought conditions in areas where drought had not yet been declared.

Shivakumar urged the Union government to come to the aid of farmers and consider a loan waiver, recalling the farm loan waiver announced during the Manmohan Singh-led government.