Noted agricultural economist Yoginder K. Alagh on Friday asked the government to implement MS Swaminathan committee's recommendations for farmers.

Alagh said, "I think the government is in the right direction. We know that there are markets where the eNAM has worked. For example, chillies in Andhra Pradesh. So, in many of these schemes, last mile coverage, particularly for the small farmers, are not reaching them."

Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj, said, "Farmers are in great distress. I do not think farmers have been such great distress for many years, in fact for many decades. I think the problem is that the policy-makers are implementing it. The government officers and ministers, they all were small children when India faced a food crisis in the 60s and 70s. Their mindset has not changed and India has temporarily become a food surplus nation."