Karnataka govt, NCDEX form joint venture to modernise agri markets

Company will also link participants in the markets on the state to the national market and reduce payment default risk that is common at present

The NCDEX Spot Exchange, a subsidiary of the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, on Tuesday said it had signed an agreement with the Karnataka government to form a joint venture company to modernise agricultural produce market committee (APMC) markets in the state by bringing in electronic auctions.

“The company, a 50:50 joint venture between the Karnataka government and NCDEX, in the initial phase is aiming to bring about this reform in up to 10 mandis in the state in this financial year,” NCDEX Managing Director and chief executive Samir Shah told reporters here on Monday.

“Subsequently the whole state would be covered,” he said.

The company would also link participants in the markets on the state to the national market and reduce payment default risk that is common at present, he added.

The JV company would modernise the APMC markets in the state by bringing in electronic auctions, providing for grading of the produce, arranging payment to farmers directly and usher in all other best international practices adopted in advanced markets.

“Warehousing for scientific storage of the produce, bank funding for the stored produce and other facilities would become possible, once the company becomes operational,” Shah said.

While grains and cereals would be the focus of the project initially, fruit and vegetables would be covered in the later stage, he added.

The NCDEX Spot Exchange is the leading commodity exchange in the country for agricultural commodities