Question : Increase in Number of Mandis

(a) the steps taken by the Government to increase the number of mandis across the country since it is a fact that average area served by mandis in the country is 434.48 sq km as against the recommendation of one mandi per 80 sq km made by National Commission for Farmers in 2004;

(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to improve the availability of market places and warehousing facilities through the ‘Self Sufficient India’ programme and one lakh crore rupees has been announced for this sector; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (c): Agricultural marketing is a state subject and wholesale markets are set up under the provisions of respective State Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act. However, in order to improve farmers’ accessibility to the markets as per standard norm prescribed in the Report of National Commission on Farmers (2006), Government has taken several steps like promoting development of private mandis, direct marketing, declaring warehouses/ silos/ cold storages as deemed markets and also developing Village Haats into Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs).

Further, the Government is supporting the development of infrastructure for market development and warehousuing facilities through schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) Scheme and Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) sub-scheme of Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM).
Further, in pursuance to the announcement of Atmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Package, the Government has approved a new central sector scheme for Financial Facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of Rs. 1,00,000 Crore to provide a medium-long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest market infrastructure including warehousing facility and community farming assets through incentives and financial support.

In addition to the above, in order to provide additional channels to farmers for marketing of their produce and promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce, the Government has notified “The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020” on 5th June, 2020. The Ordinance is intended to make better farmer- market linkages.

Further, The Government has promulgated “The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020” to protect and empower farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or big retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner.