Question : National Agricultural Market

(a) whether the Government has approved a central sector scheme for promotion of National Agricultural Market through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund;

(b) if so, the salient features of the proposed fund;

(c) the actual allocation made for online national agricultural market;

(d) whether the Government also propose to integrate 585 wholesale markets across the country, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to unify markets both at State and National level so that farmers get better price for their produce?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )

(a) to (e): Yes, Madam. Following the Budget announcements in July 2014 and in 2015, the scheme for setting up of National Agriculture Market (NAM) through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) has been approved by the Government on 01.07.2015 with a budget of Rs.200 crore for implementation during 2015-16 to 2017-18.

The National Agriculture Market (NAM) has been envisaged with the objective to promote integration of markets across States and bring about procedural uniformity, transparency and efficiency in market operations so that farmers get better price for their produce. It will be set up as an appropriate common e-market platform that would be deployable in selected 585 regulated wholesale markets in States/Union Territories (UTs) desirous of joining the e-platform. Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) has been mandated to implement the national e-platform and cover 250, 200 and 135 mandis during 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) will meet expenses on software and its customization for the States/ UTs free of cost. DAC&FW will also give grant as one time fixed cost subject to the ceiling of Rs. 30.00 lakhs per Mandi (other than to the private mandis) for related equipment / infrastructure. State Governments will suggest names of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) market yards where this project would be initiated. Integration of State APMCs with NAM requires certain pre-requisites in the State AMPC Acts, namely- (i) a single license to be valid across the State, (ii) single point levy of market fee and (iii) provision for electronic auction as a mode for price discovery. Only those States/UTs that have completed these three pre-requisites will be eligible for assistance under the scheme.
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