E-market platforms to come up across the country: Agri Min

The government is taking many initiatives to educate the farmers and remains committed to set up e-platforms in 585 markets across the country, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said.
"The National Agriculture Market is yet another recent initiative of the government, where Common eMarket Platforms would be set up in 585 regulated markets in the country," Singh said at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (ICAR-NAARM) here.
"These digital platforms would enable farmers to sell produce through e-marketing. You, the young scientists, being digital-savvy, I would urge you to contribute to all such ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) initiatives by popularising them with the farming community," he added.

The NDA government has developed web-based farmers portal and mobile-based mKisan SMS portal, besides disseminating information to farmers through Kisan Call Centers and DD Kisan Channel, the minister said.
"Two mobile Apps (Kisan Suvidha and Pusa Krishi) have been launched for farmers," he said.
Agriculture and allied sectors contribute 18 per cent to the Gross Value Added (GVA) as the foodgrains production of about 260 million tonnes is possible with availability of technologies like quality seed and associated services to the farmers, the Minister said.

Singh also lauded the research efforts of ICAR institutions and agricultural universities across the country.

In 2016-17 Budget, the government proposed a number of
measures for agriculture and farmers' welfare, such as plan to bring 2.85 million hectares of land under irrigation, Rs 2,87,000 crore (USD 42.1 billion) grant-in-aid to gram panchayats and municipalities and the goal of 100 per cent village electrification by 2018, he said.
Earlier, speaking at the 28th AGM of the Poultry Federation of India, the Minister said the poultry meat production was estimated to be nearly 3 million tonnes and exports of poultry products was at around Rs 768 crore in 2015-16.
"These achievements and growth rates are still being sustained despite the ingress of avian influenza which is a severe setback for the industry, showing the resilience of the subsector, perseverance of the private sector and timely intervention by the Government," Singh said.