Karnataka Chief Minister announces market system for organic products in APMCs

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced that from the next financial year, a market system for organic products will be implemented in Karnataka’s Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC). He was speaking at the inauguration of the International Trade Fair - Organics and Millets 2025.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced that from the next financial year, a market system for organic products will be implemented in Karnataka’s Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC). He was speaking at the inauguration of the International Trade Fair - Organics and Millets 2025.

He also demanded that the Union government sanction a minimum selling price (MSP) for millets which has been a long standing demand of farmers.

He further said that the government was committed to promoting millet farming by providing support for its cultivation, marketing, and other facilities.

The Chief Minister also said that his family was also cultivating millets and remembered the popular saying “ragi thindavanu nirogi” (the one who eats ragi will not have any disease).

“Karnataka is third in the country when it comes to cultivation area and production of millets. With the aim of establishing a systematic market and supply chain for organic products and millets, our government introduced the organic farming policy in 2017. To raise awareness about organic farming among the State’s farmers, the government also launched the Organic Bhagya Yojana in 2013,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool called Mili is a special addition to this year’s three-day fair. Upon scanning a QR code at the entrance to the fair, Mili will guide the users with introductions and explanations of various stalls at the fair along with information about international workshops, and other activities in the mela.