Farmers in Bihar also have no reliable information on market prices; elsewhere, regulated markets which record daily auction data provide a benchmark price. “If the new laws are so good, why do small farmers from Bihar come to Punjab to work as farm labourers?" Due to the lack of regulatory oversight in agricultural trade, farmers in Bihar seldom receive even the market price. Like in Bihar, farmers elsewhere might end up losing out on price information and bargaining power. Overall, fewer than 5.5% of paddy farmers in study areas sold their produce to government agencies.

Source: Mint March 07, 2021 16:07 UTC