<span style="color: #222222;">Countering criticism from Congress and JD(S), the Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has strongly defended the amendment to the Agricultural Produce Markets Act (APMC). Not buying the argument that the amendment will take away powers of APMC Committee, the Chief Minister told media persons in Bengaluru today that the changes in the act will protect farmers from market fluctuations and help realise the dream of Prime Minister to double the farmers' income by 2022.<br />''<br />''Following the Centre's directive to States to amend their Agricultural Produce Markets Acts, Karnataka state Cabinet had yesterday cleared the Ordinance to remove restrictions on the sale of farm produce. The changes in the legislation will enable farmers to sell their produce in farm fields or anywhere without the intervention of APMCs. This will allow food processing companies and multi-brand outlets to directly procure commodities from farmers without the role of APMCs.</span><br />''<br />