FARMERS-THE BREAD GROWERS ARE TREATED AS BEGGARS IN MANDIS It is really unfortunate to see that small and marginal farmers are treated very shabbily by commission agents, transport operators, hamali syndicates etc in markets. They have forgotten the fact that the entire supply chain is surviving  due to farmer and his produce. The middle who bring produce from farms are given preferential treatment over real farmers. There is nexus operating to discourage farmers bringing produce directly to markets and its more prevalent in fruit and vegetables markets. For example from 50 kg cabbage bag agents reduce 5 kg as allowance for wastage from direct farmers, whereas it is 3 kg from middlemen. Similarly there are huge variations in hamali, commission other than preferential treatment in auctions and loading. It is very clear that there is coterie operating systematically to ensure farmers not coming to markets directly. If there are credit linkages the situation is even worse....