National agriculture market: a game changer

Abstract

Government o f India has come out with a strong declaration to establish the National Agriculture Market (NAM) in India as a game changer in the domain o f agribusiness. This is therefore an attempt to bring out the uniqueness o f the National Agriculture Market and its likelihood effect in the agribusiness. The present structures and systems o f agricultural market hitherto failed to ensure better price to the farmers and supply o f good quality products to the consumers and manufacturers for sustainable development. National Agriculture Market seeks to address and reverse the process o f fragmentation oj markets, ultimately lowering intermediation costs, wastage and prices for the final consumer. NAM is envisaged as a pan-India electronic trading portal which seeks to network the existing Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC), and other market yards to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities. Ministry oj Agriculture, Department o f Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) has mandated Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) to act as the Lead Promoter o f NAM. The NANI trading software will be developed and tested and the full launch is expected bv December, 2015. Die national level platform is being developed by the Ministry' o f Agriculture, which will also bear the maintenance costs. NAM is envisaged as a win-win solution for all stakeholders such as farmers, traders, manufacturers and consumers