Instead of farmers directly electing the directors, the government went back to the pre-2014 way when members of gram panchayats as well as other cooperative bodies elected the directors. Instead of farmers, members of gram panchayats and cooperative societies like primary agricultural cooperative societies participated in the process. Mainly because of the sway the parties held over the cooperative bodies, it helped them maintain their hold over these markets. APMC law allows appointment of expert directors to these cooperative bodies to guide and help them in better functioning. A host of steps to liberalise the working of agricultural markets have seen alternative markets open up in the state.

Source: Indian Express January 25, 2020 23:02 UTC