Question : SETTING UP OF KISAN MANDIS

(a) whether the Government has drawn up plans to set up kisan mandis which will sell directly to consumers and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium is likely to set up these mandis and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether these mandis also have plans to sell directly to Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs), online retailers and the hotel and catering industry;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the time by which these mandis are likely to be set up and operationalised ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Dept. of Agriculture and Cooperation is supporting the establishment of Kisan Mandis to enable farmers and Farmer Producer Orgnisations (FPOs) to directly sell their produce to wholesalers, retailers and ordinary consumers. One such Kisan Mandi is being set up by Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) on a pilot basis in Delhi. All States and Union Territories have been addressed on establishment of Kisan Mandis or farmer markets on the same model and SFAC has offered its services for technical assistance to such mandis provided that the Agriculture Produce Marketing Regulation Act of the States/Union Territories specifically permits establishment and operation of Kisan Mandis.

(c ) & (d): Kisan Mandi plans to sell the products directly to RWAs, online retailers and hotels & catering industry and other consumers.

(e) The pilot Kisan Mandi at Delhi will be operationalised by October 2014. States will develop their own time table to set up Kisan Mandi.