State governments have been asked to intervene in marketing of potatoes to bridge the gap between the farm and retail prices. Replying supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha today, Agriculture Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar admitted that the farmers are not getting appropriate prices for their produce. Emphasising on the need to intervene in agriculture marketing, said state government will have to come up with the proposal so that Centre can intervene in the process. Mr. Pawar said that NAFED can be roped in for retail sale pf potatoes under the Market Intervention Scheme and Centre will bear 50 per cent of the expenditure incurred in marketing of the products. He informed the House that a letter in this regard has been written to the states on 3rd of this month and the reply is awaited. He also urged the states to check hoarders and black marketers.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the protest by trade unions in the national Capital on rising prices and against the policies of the government for the working class figured in the Rajya Sabha today. While the members from the BJP and the Left alleged that the government has done little to address the concerns of the working class, the Congress members demanded more funds for social security schemes of unorganised sector.<br/><br/>