Rejecting claims by AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam that the inclusion of more agricultural produces in Annexure-I of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1987, to levy a market cess of 1% would affect traders and farmers, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare M.R.K. Panneerselvam on Tuesday maintained that the move would indeed benefit them.
“Due to this action of the government, farmers would be able to take their agriculture produce to any of the regulated markets across the State for appropriate price. Moreover, it would help farmers develop interest in marketing their agriculture produce. This would further ensure that farmers get more price for their produce,” the Minister said in a statement.
The levy of 1% market cess was not new and has been in practice for long, he said and further recalled that it had been collected both during the AIADMK and DMK regimes. Unlike in Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana, farmers were free to choose whether to market their produce in regulated markets or in open markets, the Minister said.
