Jammu, Sept. 20 -- The plight of farmers, especially the small and marginal ones, under the prevailing marketing regime in Jammu agriculture, has always remained depressing. Because of inadequate infrastructure and other reasons, the benefits of Minimum Support Price (MSP) have not be provided to farmers adequately. Even the reformist 'Model APMC Act' has not been adopted.

The opening of a few seasonalmandisby the FCI and launching of procurement programmes on MSP for rice and wheat by the J&K Government during the past decade 2010 - 2020 have however deterred the private mill owners from procurement of these food grains from the farmers at very low and non-remunerative rates. Comparatively better rates are now being given to the farmers...