Govt plans to link 22000 mandis with e-NAM platform by 2022

Mumbai: The government is planning to link 22,000 mandis across the country with the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), an online trading platform for agricultural commodities by 2021-22, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh Wednesday said.

"Already 585 mandis have been linked with e-NAM and we are planning to link 22,000 mandis across the country by FY22," the minister said at a conference organised by Crop Care Federation of India here.

The minister said the government is implementing several programmes to develop the agricultural sector and improve the economic condition of farmers.

"Issues such as reducing cost of production, ensuring remunerative price for farmers' produce, stopping wastage and ensuring alternative sources of income are being addressed in mission mode," he added.

The minister said if the government, the industry and farmers work together then many challenges can be overcome.

"The government has been working with the industry to help farmers confront the challenges facing them, however, there is a need to expedite the support," he added.

Singh said, the budgetary outlay of the Agriculture Ministry has been increased to Rs 2,11,694 crore during 2014-19, to develop and implement schemes to improve the farmers' situation in the country.

'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' is one such scheme which aims to reduce the risks associated with agriculture, is being implemented across the country.

Union Budget 2019, he said, will also be dedicated to the farmers of this country.

"It will be another step forward, in contributing to the realisation of the goal of doubling farmers income by the year 2022," Singh added.