The eNAM (National Agriculture Market) is a flagship initiative by the Government of India aimed at creating a unified digital market for agricultural commodities. It promotes transparency, efficiency, and fair price discovery for farmers.
Objectives of eNAM
- Establish a pan-India electronic trading platform for agricultural commodities.
- Facilitate fair price discovery through competitive and transparent bidding.
- Enhance market efficiency by reducing transaction costs.
- Integrate Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across states.
- Empower farmers with better market access and improve their income levels.
Key Features of eNAM
- Digital Platform: An online portal that connects buyers, traders, and farmers.
- Unified Market: Links local APMC markets across the country into a single network.
- Transparent Pricing: Enables competitive bidding and reduces exploitation by middlemen.
- Quality Testing: Offers facilities for grading and quality testing of produce.
- Payment Systems: Ensures quick and secure payments through electronic means.
Benefits of eNAM
- Provides farmers with access to a wider market and better price realization.
- Reduces dependency on local mandis and middlemen.
- Promotes inter-state trade of agricultural commodities.
- Enhances transparency in market transactions and pricing.
- Enables integration of technology into agricultural marketing.
Implementation of eNAM
- Launched in April 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
- Initially linked 585 APMCs, now expanded to over 1,000 mandis.
- States are required to amend their APMC Acts to allow electronic trading.
- Farmers register on the platform to list and sell their produce online.
- Buyers and traders can bid for produce through a digital auction system.
Challenges of eNAM
- Digital Divide: Limited access to technology and internet for many farmers.
- Infrastructure Issues: Inadequate grading and storage facilities in mandis.
- State Participation: Resistance from states in amending APMC Acts.
- Awareness: Lack of awareness among farmers about the platform and its benefits.
- Middlemen Resistance: Opposition from traditional intermediaries to the new system.
Key Points for Competitive Exams
- eNAM stands for National Agriculture Market.
- It was launched in April 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
- The platform connects APMCs across India into a unified digital market.
- eNAM promotes transparent pricing and fair price discovery for farmers.
- Quality testing facilities are available for grading agricultural produce.
- Payments are made through secure electronic systems.
- Initially covered 585 mandis, now expanded to over 1,000 mandis.
- States must amend their APMC Acts for implementation.
- The platform encourages inter-state trade of commodities.
- Challenges include digital divide, infrastructure gaps, and low awareness.