Union Budget 2021: APMC await helping hand from FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees have been in the spotlight ever since farmers' protests erupted in November last year against the Centre new farm laws.

All eyes are on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to clarify the fate of the APMC which could assuage protesting farmers.

Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, President of the APMC Committee at the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pitched for an increase in customs duty on the import of pulses to boost farmers' morale.

Lahoti said that the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rule is beneficial only for big corporate houses.

The APMCs have asked the Centre to collect TCS only on transactions above Rs 50 lakh and help small and medium entrepreneurs.

He said the government should focus on building more cold storages near harvest areas to save the produce and strengthen the farming sector.