Setting up e-platform to provide best prices to farmers: Prez

Government is setting up a national online agriculture market platform to connect 585 regulated wholesale markets to ensure fair remunerative prices for the farmers, President Pranab Mukherjee said today.

Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, he said 'Kisaano ki Samriddhi', the well-being of farmers, is vital to India's prosperity.

"To provide the best market price to farmers, the unified National Agriculture Market is working towards setting up a common e-market platform to connect 585 regulated wholesale markets, thereby making India, One Food Zone, One Country, One Market.

"This will immensely benefit our farmers in getting fair and remunerative prices. Targeted policy interventions in the last year have brought down sugar cane arrears from over Rs 21,000 crore to Rs 1,800 crore," President said.

Mukherjee said the government has taken several steps for welfare of farmers, like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna, which is the biggest ever government contribution to crop insurance with the lowest ever premium rates for farmers.

He said soil health cards will be issued to 14 crore farm holdings by March 2017.

To promote organic farming, the President said Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojna is being implemented under which 8,000 clusters have been developed so far.

The government, he said, has also launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna, New Urea Policy and several steps were being take to usher in "second green revolution' for the eastern states.

Mukherjee further said the food processing fund has been operationalised with a view to provide affordable credit to designated food parks.

"In the last 10 months, five new Mega Food Parks have been operationalised. Under the Cold Chain Scheme, 33 projects have been made operational during the last 18 months," he said.

He said Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission has also been launched for 300 rural growth clusters for developing skills and local entrepreneurship and providing infrastructure amenities.