AMN /
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch National Agriculture Market portal to connect e-mandis in several states at a function in New Delhi tomorrow. Online inter-connectivity of e-mandis is aimed at ushering in much needed agri marketing reforms to enable farmers to get better price of their produce.
Briefing media in New Delhi, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, the national agriculture market will enable farmers in 8 states to sell 25 commodities online in 21 wholesale mandis and get better prices. The states include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkahnd, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The government is aiming to integrate 200 mandis by September this year and entire 585 mandis by March 2018. About 200 crore rupees has been sanctioned for this purpose.
Initially, online trade will be allowed within the state and inter-state trade will be possible once all states and mandis are integrated. 25 commodities including onion, potato, apple, wheat, pulses, coarse grains and cotton, have been identified for online trading. To integrate a wholesale mandi with the online platform, the state governments have to amend their Agriculture Produce Market Committee Act.
