National Agriculture Market
Prime
Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi recently (April 14, 2016) launched an electronic
mandi to help farmers sell their produce online and do away with the problems
many farmers face in agricultural markets. National Agriculture Market (NAM)
has been incorporated by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation.
This
e-platform aims to provide more options to farmers to sell their produce and is
part of implementation of the roadmap for doubling income of the farmers by
2022. In July last year, the Cabinet had approved setting up of an online
national agriculture market with a budget of Rs 200 crore.
In
the function, 21 regulated wholesale markets, or mandis, in eight states [Gujarat,
Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand and
Himachal Pradesh] under an online platform (e - NAM) was integrated as part of
the proposed National Agriculture Market (NAM)
Key facts:
·
The purpose
behind NAM is the creation of a common national market for agricultural
commodities through an e-platform network.
·
National
agricultural products market platform will integrate 585 wholesale markets
across India under an online platform.
·
NAM will ensure
farmers get competitive returns and consumers get stable prices and steady
availability.
·
It will be
implemented in 3 phases covering 250, 200 and 135 mandis during 2015-16,
2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively.
·
A budgetary
provision of Rs.200 crores has been made to be spent over the next three years
(2015-16 to 2017-18).
·
National
Agriculture Market (NAM) was launched on the occasion of 125 birth anniversary
of BR Ambedkar.
·
By September,
2016 two hundred mandis will be included and by March, 2018 five hundred eighty
five mandis
·
This project will
operate through an online portal which is being linked to the mandis of the
States. Its software will be provided to all the willing states without cost. A
knowledgeable person is being deployed for one year in every sharing mandi so
as to facilitate the smooth functioning of the portal. Under this Project,
Government of India is providing a grant of Rs. 30 lacs to the proposed
agriculture mandis of the states. The farmers will be provided “farmer helpline
services round the clock” for obtaining information related to this portal
·
Ministry of
Agriculture has adopted a concept- “agriculture development tree”. The Ministry
of Agriculture has initiated a number of projects for overall development of
the farmers within the same tree. Government is taking all steps to double the
farmers’ income in the next 5 years.
·
For the first
time in India, “one nation and one market” is being developed and this market
status will be elevated to the status of international market.
