Unified Market Platform in Karnataka; a boon to farmers

The Unified Market Platform (UMP) in Karnataka has realised 38 percent more income to farmers in 2015-16 over 2013-14, according to NITI Aayog report. Copra, black gram, tur, and Bengal gram were the commodities which gave among the highest realisation.

The UMP is an initiative of Rashtriya e-Market Services (ReMS) - a joint venture between NCDEX e-Markets Limited and the government of Karnataka.

NITI Aayog report on ‘Doubling Farmer Incomes’ compares the prices received by farmers between 2013-14 and 2015-16 (the first year after creation of UMP in Karnataka). The data confirms that the UMP modal prices in Karnataka witnessed much higher increase than the increase in wholesale prices of the same commodity in the country. The average increase was 38 percent in nominal terms and 13 percent in real terms, after being deflated by WPI of the concerned commodity. The eNAM and other market reforms, which focus on the crop sector, show a 9.1percent increase in farmers’ income.

Currently 157 mandis in Karnataka use e-trading, e-permits, e-payments, scientific grading and assaying services.

While all provisions of UMP are not yet fully operational, complete implementation is expected to have a much larger impact on farmers’ income, a statement issued by NCDEX said. “We remain committed to use technology and markets to bring about a positive change in the lives of farmers by reforming the physical markets in the country and helping central and state governments in the nation’s food security and welfare priorities,” said Rajesh Sinha, MD & CEO, NeML.