Trading on e-NAM Recovers from Drop during Pandemic

The value of total transactions on the government-controlled electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) has risen to a new high in the first ten months of the current fiscal year when compared to total transactions since its inception in 2016-17. The increased transaction is viewed as a success by stakeholders as a result of the shift to a digital and online platform.

According to sources, total transactions over e-NAM were 42,163 crore during April-January of the current fiscal year, compared to 31,366 crore in 2020-21. If current transactions continue, the business could reach 46,000 crore this year, according to sources.

The turnover on e-NAM, an online platform connecting 1,000 Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis across the country, fell 10.2 percent to 31,366 crore in 2020-21, down from 34,940 crore the previous year.

Top Performers on e- NAM Platform:

Rajasthan, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh remain the top three performers on the e-NAM platform, accounting for 73% of total transactions this year, compared to a combined share of 66% in last year's trade value. Good performers have not only maintained farmers' and traders' interests but have also exceeded their targets. On the other hand, it is equally important to expand business in other states that have yet to pick up, according to an official.

According to experts, the government should prioritize inter-state trade by providing third-party guarantees on the quality of the produce transacted on the platform.

According to experts, the goal of e-NAM will not be met unless an entity is willing to take on that responsibility. "Instead of focusing on more mandis, which cannot be achieved," said a former Agriculture Ministry official, "hand-holding of existing mandis should be done to increase transaction over e-NAM."

"With the success of 1000 mandis, e-NAM is now on a path of expansion, as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget (2021-22) to integrate 1000 more mandis with e-NAM." "This will strengthen the mandis even more," the Agriculture Ministry said last year after the Budget.

According to sources, after the farm laws were implemented, which were intended to move agricultural trade out of mandi areas, the states became confused on the e-NAM platform and demanded a clear policy from the Centre.

According to the e-NAM portal, online trading takes place on 571 market yards out of the 1,000 mandis integrated under e-NAM. Guntur in Andhra Pradesh continues to lead the APMC mandis with a turnover of 4,025 crore in April-January, compared to 2,173 crore for the entire 2020-21 fiscal year. Sirsa mandi in Haryana has been pushed to third place by Rajasthan's Jaipur (fruits and vegetables) mandi, which has a turnover of 1,236 crore.

"There should be competition among APMC mandis, and local officials of mandis should be awarded at the national level to motivate them to improve their e-NAM results." "The Centre should also increase financial support to e-NAM centres within mandi to popularise the online platform," said a Haryana Mandi Board official.