Electronic agriculture market will cover 250 mandis by next September

NEW DELHI: The electronic national agriculture market will cover 250 mandis (wholesale markets) by next September, ensuring free movement of farm produce from one market area to another, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said. This would give producers access across markets, save them from levies charged by multiple mandis and ensure commodities to consumers at reasonable prices.

“The government has drawn a time-bound programme for developing the agriculture market. The national e-platform developed for this propose will cover 250 mandis by September 2016 and, by March 2018, a total 585 mandis will have the system,” Singh said while briefing members of a Parliamentary Consultative Committee.

The government is actively working to bring changes to the agriculture marketing system in the interests of farmers and consumers, he said.

The Centre has urged states to introduce an e-market platform within their territories so that farmers will be able to sell their produce in any of the mandis.