THE price mechanism in vogue since 1947 is heavily tilted towards arhtis (middle-men) against the interests of the rural population that toils day and night to ensure the nation`s food security.Grains should be categorised based on their moisture, and then their prices should be fixed. Purchases at lower than the announced rates should be penalised. Digitised scales should be introduced at all grain markets, replacing the present auction system.

All produce over and above the domestic requirements and replenishing strategic reserves should be automatically exported to save the local market from a glut while protecting the growers from likely financial losses.

The government should have the political will to control the mafias that use their dirty wealth to manipulate all processes from plantation to harvesting and from farm to fork, exploiting both the rural and urban population.m -AM