Emulating Karnataka’s initiative, the Centre will bring 100 Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yards in 11 States under the e-market network by March 2016, in a bid to help them take up e-auctioning of commodities.
Disclosing this to media persons on the sidelines of a workshop organised by the Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission (KAPC) here, Ashok M.R. Dalwai, Additional Secretary to Union Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, said the measure was part of the efforts to bring in a system of national agricultural market.
In all, the Centre wants to link 585 APMC yards in the country under the e-market network, he said.
The main intention was to break the monopoly of APMCs in the trading of agricultural commodities and widen the markets for farmers so that they could get remunerative prices for their produce, he explained.
The Centre will release the software for e-auctioning of commodities on a pilot basis in December.
Each of the chosen markets will be given a grant of Rs. 30 lakh to set up facilities for grading and testing for quality, Mr. Dalwai said. Farmers will have the option of directly marketing their produce without the intervention of APMC agents. But they can use the agents’ assistance if need be by paying the commission, he said.
District irrigation plan
Mr. Dalwai said 100 districts had been chosen for the implementation of Prime Minister’s Krishi Sinchana Yojana that aims at increasing water use efficiency.
Under this project, a district irrigation plan will be prepared for the efficient use of water resources through various schemes, including watershed.
He said soil health cards had been given to 9.5 lakh farmers of the total 14 crore in the country.
In all, the Centre wants to link 585 APMC yards in the country under the e-market network. It aims to break the monopoly of APMCs in the trading of agricultural commodities and widen the markets for farmers so that
they get remunerative prices for their produce
Ashok M.R. DalwaiAdditional Secretary, Union Department of Agriculture and Cooperation


Source : The Hindu