Seven modern markets to help farmers

India will soon have seven Modern Terminal Markets that will help farmers realise maximum returns for their produce, remove middlemen and ensure lower prices for end-consumer, a top government official said today.

Terminal market is a 'Mandi' with modern infrastructure- such as electronic auctioning of commodities, grading and standardisation, where farmers would send their products directly or through collection centres. The market would not only provide a backward linkage to the farmers but forward linkage to the wholesale agents, distribution centres, retail, cash-and-carry stores, processing units and exports.

"We will soon have terminal markets in Chandigarh, Nasik, Nagpur, Mumbai and Bhopal and two more cities. Chandigarh has already called for expression of interest," said P K Mishra, secretary in department of agriculture and cooperation. Addressing a workshop on Modern Terminal Markets, he said the present marketing system of agriculture produce in the country, particularly for fruits and vegetables, has several systemic weaknesses.

"Producers have often failed to realise the expenses incurred on transportation of fruits and vegetables to markets, let alone the cost of production and capital investment, during the period of glut," he said.

Mishra noted that the terminal market is being viewed as a unique one-stop solution to the various ills plaguing agriculture marketing in the country. He stressed that the need for this system to be inclusive, since 82 per cent of farmers in the country are small and marginal.

He also urged states to be more proactive in facilitating to set up such markets.