Nope. The MSP laws didn't affect cooperatives. The issue is, a common side hustle Punjabi, Haryanvi, JK, and Himachali farmers do is import MSP crops from states like MP or Bihar and then sell it to the MSP broker in Punjab, Haryana, JK, or Himachal. As trucking in India is largely consolidated in PB/HR/HP/JK it makes it easier for larger farmers in those regions to build the supply chains needed to do an MSP arbitrage.

Essentially, instead of farming, you become a commodity broker (arhatiya)

This is why you didn't see similar protests in other states in India that also have MSP like Kerala or Gujarat, because they don't have the same logistics chain (otherwise they'd do it as well).

> Another issue might be that PDS was abolished in the 80s (utility stores at provincial level are similar but not the same

Oof, that is not good. India has shown that a PDS style model can work nowadays thanks to digitization. Pakistan needs to redeploy the PDS system if the ag economy is to recovery, especially after the floods.

> arhatiya

Yep, but they tend to be in those commodities that aren't covered by a cooperative.

Was thinking more of arhatiya as short term lender but that tracks