The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has recently introduced three innovative features to the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Platform. These features will serve as a significant step towards fortifying the agricultural sector’s marketing by decreasing farmers’ requirement to go to various mandis to sell their crop yield. This step is even more necessary in the current times where there is a need to dispel crowds at mandis due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
New Features Launched on e-NAM Platform
Three new features were added to the e-NAM platform. The first is the integration of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System (e-NWRs) Module with e-NAM, which allows farmers to directly trade harvested produce stored in selected Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) registered warehouses. This feature helps cut down logistics expenses and enables farmers to sell their produce across the nation at better rates. As of now, Telangana has 14 warehouses, and Andhra Pradesh consists of 23 warehouses registered under this system.
Benefits of e-NWRs Integration With e-NAM
As a result of the aforementioned feature, farmers can avail themselves of pledge loans if needed, and there will be stabilization of prices due to matching supply and demand across time and place utility.
Introduction of FPO trading Module
The second feature is the FPO trading module enabling Farmer Producers’ Organisations (FPOs) to upload images of their produce along with quality parameters for bidding. Bidders can view these details before placing their bids. After successful bidding, FPOs can deliver the produce straight from their premises or via mandi.
Advantages of FPO Trading Module
The FPO trading module will decongest mandis and help FPOs by reducing their logistics costs while enhancing their bargaining power. It also facilitates online payment processes, offering them an ease of doing business.
Launch of Logistic Module
The third feature is the launch of the logistic module, providing users with choices for connecting with large logistic aggregator platforms. This move will add over 3,75,000 numbers of trucks from large logistic providers for the transportation of agri-produce.
Perks of Logistic Module
The logistic module enables seamless transportation of agri-produce. Additionally, it promotes inter-state trade by offering online transport facilities for distant buyers.
Overview of e-NAM
Introduced on 14th April 2016, e-NAM is a pan-India electronic trade portal linking Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across different states. It provides remote bidding opportunities and mobile-based payments that traders can use without the need to visit mandis or banks. So far, the system has integrated 585 mandis in 16 States and 2 Union Territories on the e-NAM portal, with plans to expand to an additional 415 mandis.
Insight Into Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System
The Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System, launched in 2011, allows farmers to take loans against warehouse receipts provided to them for their storage. The Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) System was launched subsequently in 2017.
Information About Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
Established on 26th October 2010 under the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007, the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) is a statutory authority under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, headquartered in New Delhi. The authority oversees the development and regulation of warehouses, negotiability of warehouse receipts, and orderly growth of the warehousing business in the country.