National Agriculture Market (eNAM)

National Agriculture Market (eNAM) (launched on 14^th April, 2016) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which seeks to network the existing physical APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities. NAM seeks to address the limitations of current APMC mandis and is being implemented by Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), by Ministry of Agriculture.

• The scheme was launched with the objectives of to promote uniformity in agriculture marketing by streamlining of procedures across the integrated markets. Also, removing information asymmetry between buyers and sellers. It ensures real time price discovery based on actual demand and supply through transparent auction process based on quality of produce along with timely online payment.
• It is step towards the concept of ‘One Nation One Market’ and expand the market access for farmers.

Outcome

• State Agriculture Mandis have been linked to National Agriculture Market (NAM).
• Strengthened e-NAM platform by rolling out MIS Dashboard for monitoring trade analysis of each mandis at the state.
• The portal facilitates direct online payment to farmers through RTGS/NEFT, Debit Card and Internet Banking.
• Integration of farmer’s data with Central Farmer Database has ensured an easier registration process.
• NAM mobile app facilitates farmers to do advance Gate Entry, reducing waiting time.
• Grievance Redressal Management System has been initiated by Mandi Secretaries to raise queries online.

Challenges

• Liberal licensing of traders/buyers and commission agents by State authorities without any pre-condition of physical presence or possession of shop /premises in the market yard has resulted in reported cases of unfair trade practices.
• Bringing uniformity along the agricultural market at the national level as ‘agriculture’ is a state subject.
• The need for strengthening, upgrading and expanding agricultural marketing facilities across the country. Also, there are fiscal constraints among states to develop quality testing laboratories.

Ways to Improve

• Commencing inter-State trade between mandis of two different States to realize dream of ‘One Nation One Market’.
• Develop an inter-state dashboard on e-NAM platform to promote inter-state trade among e-NAM states.
• “Logistic providers” information needs to be provided in e-NAM portal to traders from outside the State, to facilitate transportation of commodities after trading.
• Transition from subsistence farming through land consolidation, contract farming, increased awareness among farmers etc. is necessary to make eNAM a success.