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

  1. Establish a pan-India electronic trading platform for agricultural commodities.
  2. Facilitate fair price discovery through competitive and transparent bidding.
  3. Enhance market efficiency by reducing transaction costs.
  4. Integrate Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across states.
  5. Empower farmers with better market access and improve their income levels.

Key Features of eNAM

  1. Digital Platform: An online portal that connects buyers, traders, and farmers.
  2. Unified Market: Links local APMC markets across the country into a single network.
  3. Transparent Pricing: Enables competitive bidding and reduces exploitation by middlemen.
  4. Quality Testing: Offers facilities for grading and quality testing of produce.
  5. Payment Systems: Ensures quick and secure payments through electronic means.

Benefits of eNAM

  1. Provides farmers with access to a wider market and better price realization.
  2. Reduces dependency on local mandis and middlemen.
  3. Promotes inter-state trade of agricultural commodities.
  4. Enhances transparency in market transactions and pricing.
  5. Enables integration of technology into agricultural marketing.

Implementation of eNAM

  1. Launched in April 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
  2. Initially linked 585 APMCs, now expanded to over 1,000 mandis.
  3. States are required to amend their APMC Acts to allow electronic trading.
  4. Farmers register on the platform to list and sell their produce online.
  5. Buyers and traders can bid for produce through a digital auction system.

Challenges of eNAM

  1. Digital Divide: Limited access to technology and internet for many farmers.
  2. Infrastructure Issues: Inadequate grading and storage facilities in mandis.
  3. State Participation: Resistance from states in amending APMC Acts.
  4. Awareness: Lack of awareness among farmers about the platform and its benefits.
  5. Middlemen Resistance: Opposition from traditional intermediaries to the new system.

Key Points for Competitive Exams

  1. eNAM stands for National Agriculture Market.
  2. It was launched in April 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
  3. The platform connects APMCs across India into a unified digital market.
  4. eNAM promotes transparent pricing and fair price discovery for farmers.
  5. Quality testing facilities are available for grading agricultural produce.
  6. Payments are made through secure electronic systems.
  7. Initially covered 585 mandis, now expanded to over 1,000 mandis.
  8. States must amend their APMC Acts for implementation.
  9. The platform encourages inter-state trade of commodities.
  10. Challenges include digital divide, infrastructure gaps, and low awareness.

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