Less 10% of wholesale markets are connected to e-NAM (National Agricultural Market)

Reality lies in data. While we trust in our politicians, they only ‘talk the talk’ and never bring forth the data to us.

What we get in lieu of promises, is more promises.

Of all the burgeoning talks about farmer welfare, loan waivers and other sops, reality is different.

The elementary thing for a farmer is getting the best price of his produce and e-NAM implemented to achieve that, is still waiting to happen.

Reality is different than talks.

Data from the below mentioned question discussed in Lok Sabha, tells the truth.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE, LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 400

ANSWERED ON: 08.01.2019

Sub: Linking Farmers with Markets

a) Agricultural marketing is a state subject and wholesale agricultural marketing is undertaken by the network of 6630 regulated wholesale markets, set up under the provision of respective State Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act.

b) 585 wholesale regulated markets of 16 States and 02 UTs have been integrated with e-NAM platform.

c) As per Union Budget Announcement, 2018–19, Government has decided to develop and upgrade existing 22,000 rural haats into Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs) to work as centers of aggregation and to provide farmers with facility near to farm gate for making direct sale to consumers and bulk purchasers while improving their market access.

In fact, not even all APMC Mandis are connected to e-NAM online.

And then, the plans for 22,000 Gramin Agricultural Markets?

Originally published at india.substack.com.