It is also important to recognise that Indian agri-produce markets are decentralised and dynamic. It is contested that the APMCs in some States are inefficient and ridden with corruption and malpractices. Should we abandon the present structures or should we reform the APMC markets? The decision to try to do away with the APMC regime on grounds of inefficiency and monopsony is comparable to the argument against practicing democracy. Should we surrender democracy or federalism because it's not working smoothly? If self-reliance is the purpose of those reforms, should it be achieved through corporates or through people’s agencies like APMCs and FPOs? The way forward is to either leave the intra-State Agri marketing reforms to the States within the spirit of co-operative federal...
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