Government integrates 250 mandis in 10 states with e-agriculture market in first phase

Agri Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that the integration of mandis with e-platform will help increase farmers' income

The government has integrated 250 mandis in ten states with the electronic national agriculture market (e-NAM) in the first phase, where commodities worth Rs 421 crore have been traded, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Thursday.

He also launched mobile App to access information related to prices of commodities traded on the e-NAM platform to encourage more farmers to take advantage of this new initiative.

 

In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the e-NAM on a pilot basis with 22 mandis in eight states. The target was to integrate 200 mandis by September this year and total 585 by March 2018.

Briefing media, Singh said, "I am happy to announce that most of the implementation issues faced during pilot phase have been addressed and e-NAM platform is launched in 250 markets across 10 states as on September 30."

The integration of these mandis with e-platform will help increase farmers' income in the long run, he said.

"So far, 1,53,992 tonnes of agriculture produce worth Rs 421 crore has been transacted on e-NAM platform. As many as 1,60,229 farmers, 46,688 traders and 25,970 commission agents have been registered on the e-NAM at present," he said.

About 69 agricultural and horticultural commodities including fruits and vegetables are notified for trading on e-NAM platform.

In order to curb physical inspection of quality of the produce in mandis, the Minister said, "We have asked the states to set up the assaying facilities to ensure quality assessment of farmers' produce in a scientific and professional manner."

Provision of online payment of the sale proceeds to farmers has also been made available on e-NAM portal and states have been requested to encourage direct transfer of sale proceeds to farmers' bank account, he added.

E-NAM is a pan India electronic portal for sale and purchase of agri-produce in an efficient and transparent manner. The government has allocated Rs 200 crore for this scheme.