Question : Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing

(a) the number of objectives achieved out of those mentioned in Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM) since 01.04.2014; and

(b) the number of objectives not achieved out of those mentioned in ISAM along with the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): The objectives of Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM) are as under:

(i) To promote creation of agricultural marketing infrastructure by providing backend subsidy support to State, cooperative and private sector investments.

(ii) To promote creation of scientific storage capacity and to promote pledge financing to increase farmers’ income.

(iii) To promote Integrated Value Chains (confined up to the stage of primary processing only) to provide vertical integration of farmers with primary processors.

(iv) To use ICT as a vehicle of extension to sensitize and orient farmers to respond to new challenges in agricultural marketing.

(v) To establish a nation-wide information network system for speedy collection and dissemination of market information and data on arrivals and prices for its efficient and timely utilization by farmers and other stake holders.

(vi) To support framing of grade standards and quality certification of agricultural commodities to help farmers get better and remunerative prices for their graded produce.

(vii) To catalyze private investment in setting up of agribusiness projects and thereby provide assured market to producers and strengthen backward linkages of agri-business projects with producers and their groups.



(viii) To undertake and promote training, research, education, extension and consultancy in the agri marketing sector.

(ix) To establish a National Unified Agricultural Market through e-NAM.

In order to achieve the objectives (i) and (iii) above pertaining to the creation of agricultural marketing infrastructure and to promote Integrated Value chains (confined up to the stage of primary processing), 9753 marketing infrastructure projects have been created.

With respect to objective (ii) above, pertaining to creation of scientific storage capacity, 345.52 Lakh MT storage capacities have been created under the scheme.

With respect to objective (iv) and (v) above, the Government is implementing Marketing Research & Information Network (MRIN) sub scheme of ISAM. The scheme has a coverage of 3356 markets spread all over the country having coverage of more than 300 commodities and 2000 varieties. Mandi Price and arrival data is being captured through the Agmarknet portal and disseminated through various modes like DD Kisan mobile application and Kisan call centre.

With respect to objective (vi) above, the Government is implementing Strengthening of Agmark Grading Facilities (SAGF), sub scheme of ISAM, to support framing of grade standards and quality certification of agricultural commodities to help farmers get better and remunerative prices for their graded produce. So far, total 226 agricultural commodities grade standards framed and have been notified since inception which include fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetable oils, ghee, spices including turmeric, honey, creamery butter, wheat, atta, besan, etc. Further, as on date total 4529 Certification of Authorization have been issued across the country for grading and marking of agriculture produce, so that farmers get better and remunerative prices for their graded produce.

With respect to objective (vii) above, the Government is implementing Venture Capital Assistance Scheme (VCA) through Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC). Under VCA scheme, SFAC has assisted total 2852 agribusiness projects.

With respect to objective (viii) above, CCS National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), an autonomous organization under the Government, has completed 55 survey and research projects. Further, 880 training and seminar programmes and 96 consultation projects have also been completed by NIAM.

With respect to objective (ix) above, in order to promote a National Agriculture Market by integrating the physical regulated wholesale markets through a virtual platform for providing transparent quality based price discovery system, an e-trading platform named National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform has been launched which helps in shortening the intermediation for agricultural and horticultural produce through inter-mandi and inter-state trade. A total of 585 wholesale regulated markets of 16 States and 02 Union Territories have been integrated with e-NAM platform.


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