Mixed Reactions By Industry To Adoption Of e-nam

Mixed Reactions By Industry To Adoption Of e-nam

Pune: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that states are being cajoled to reject the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) and adopt e-nam (electronic National Agriculture Market) so that the farmers get a better price for their produce. Her statement was received with mixed reactions by various stakeholders who felt that the platform should be well developed and farmers should be trained before the e-auction of the produce starts. 

She was talking at at an event organised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Tuesday.

“APMC’s structure was old while e-nam structure suits the next generation. This platform will enable the farmers to get the payment directly and also bring transparency. This is in farmers’ interest but it is very important for the government to prepare them by training them to use this platform. It is important to develop this online platform and establish it before abolishing the APMCs,” said Dilip Khaire, former chairman, APMC, Pune.

Suvarna Jagtap, Chairperson, Lasalgaon APMC also echoed the same sentiments and said, “Farmers do not show much interest in online auction and therefore, it was important for the government to introduce it slowly. They should focus on training the farmers and merchants about the platform and then start the implementation.”

Vilas Bhujbal, President, Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Aadte Association said, “In Pune APMC, pomegranate auction has been happening on e-nam while training for the commission agents and others have already started. It is a good platform that will help the farmers as well as commission agents as it will bring about the much needed transparency. However, it is important to impart the training so that everyone can use this platform.”

However, jaggery auction which started on e-nam portal in Pune APMC was not very successful. Ajit Sethiya, former President, Pune Jaggery Merchant Association, said, “The auction for jaggery started on 
e-nam in 2017 but at present, not even one per cent auction was happening online. Farmers were not happy with this platform as it becomes very difficult to judge the quality of the produce by seeing it online and no efforts were taken to address these issues.”

In Junnar APMC, e-auction of pomegranate started an year ago and was not successful. Ashok Gund, a pomegranate farmer in Junnar, said, “E-auction for pomegranate started in Junnar APMC but we were not very happy with the rates. It is difficult to judge the quality on online portal and small farmers like us find it more convenient to sell it in the open market at APMC than online, especially in rural areas, as there are network and internet issues as well.”

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