Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Commerce and Industry, and Textiles, Piyush Goyal, launched the ambitious 'e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi' program, which aims to improve the country's agricultural environment. Speaking at the launch ceremony held in New Delhi, Minister Goyal articulated a vision where the agriculture sector stands as the cornerstone propelling India towards 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
Minister Goyal expressed gratitude to the farming community for their crucial role in sustaining the lives of millions across the nation. He emphasized that the 'e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi' initiative, facilitated by cutting-edge technology, aims to streamline farmers' warehousing logistics, ensuring fair prices for their produce.
Reduced Security Deposit Charges
A key announcement made by Minister Goyal related to the reduction of security deposit charges at Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) registered warehouses. This move is strategically designed to incentivize more farmers, particularly small-scale ones, to leverage warehouse facilities, thereby augmenting their income. Under the new policy, farmers stocking their produce at these warehouses will only need to pay a nominal 1% security deposit, down from the previous 3%.
Highlighting the significance of the 'e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi' platform, Minister Goyal underscored its role in simplifying the storage process for farmers. The initiative enables farmers to store their produce at any registered WDRA warehouse for up to six months, at a competitive interest rate of 7% per annum. This digital intervention is poised to mitigate distress sales by providing farmers with viable post-harvest storage options.
Market Access for Farmers
Goyal emphasized that initiatives like 'e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi' and e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) are instrumental in facilitating access to an interconnected market for farmers. Beyond the traditional avenues of selling produce to the government at Minimum Support Price (MSP), these platforms empower farmers to explore diverse market channels, thereby enhancing their income opportunities. Notably, government procurement through MSPs has surged by 2.5 times over the past decade.
Acknowledging the launch of the world's largest cooperative food grain storage scheme, Minister Goyal urged WDRA to devise a proposal for the free registration of all godowns under the cooperative sector. This strategic intervention aims to bolster storage infrastructure for farmers, enabling them to access WDRA facilities and secure fair prices for their harvest.
By leveraging digital innovation and fostering cooperative partnerships, the initiative holds the promise of ushering in a new era of prosperity for the farming community, steering India towards its vision of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
