Unified Agricultural Market

 

 

Context :

India Unveils Draft Policy for Unified National Agricultural Market

 

Extract :

 

The Indian government has released a comprehensive draft policy framework to establish a unified national market for agricultural produce, aiming to address long-standing challenges in agri-trade. 

This move comes nearly three years after the repeal of farm laws following nationwide protests.

The draft, prepared under the chairmanship of Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Additional Secretary (Marketing) in the Ministry of Agriculture, suggests transformative reforms to harmonise agricultural marketing practices across states. 

 

 

My Take :

 

Over the past few years, I have sent some 42 e-mails in this regard to our Cabinet Ministers. Here is that list :

My Agriculture Related Blogs ( up to 02 Jan 2025 )

 

I am glad that this news report mentions some aspects which indicate partial incorporation of my past suggestions in the Draft Policy . For a quick / easy overview , you may want to go through following table

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in  /  www.HemenParekh.ai  /  04 Jan 2025

 

Framework of Unified Agricultural Market

Aspect	My Past Related Blogs on This Aspect (Hyperlinks)	Date	Year	My Remarks
A single licensing system	1. Agriculture in China   2. Granaries are full? No, overflowing!	02 June 04 Feb	2011,   2012	Highlighted the need for unified systems to simplify processes and reduce redundancy in licensing procedures.
Establishment of private wholesale markets	1. Garbage is Green Gold {3G}   2. Thank You, Shri Radha Mohan Singhji	10 Feb   23 Dec	2016,   2018	Advocated for private sector involvement to promote efficiency and better price realization for farmers.
Enabling direct procurement from farm-gates by processors, exporters, and bulk buyers	1. Influence farmers and win Votes?   2. A Grass-Root Revolution	05 Feb   11 Mar	2019,   2019	Emphasized the importance of direct farm-gate procurement to streamline supply chains and benefit both farmers and buyers.
Declaring warehouses, silos, and cold storage facilities as “deemed markets,” allowing private e-trading platforms	1. Locusts are invading!   2. Selling Farm Laws before selling Farm Crops	24 May   24 Sept	2020,   2020	Suggested leveraging private e-platforms for efficient inventory management and enhanced market access.
Introducing a single market fee applicable state-wide	1. Thank You, Shri Tomarji   2. How about introducing a PLI for agricultural produce?	28 Nov   08 Dec	2020,   2020	Proposed rationalizing market fees for uniformity and reduced financial burden on stakeholders.
Rationalising market fees and commission charges to reduce financial burdens on farmers and traders.	1. e-NAM; reimagined to resolve farmer agitation   2. Adding Fodder to Fire? or, just calculated mischief?	10 Dec   17 Dec	2020,   2020	Focused on reducing financial overheads by reforming fees and commissions in agricultural markets.
Seamless national agricultural market	1. Congratulations, Shri P K Purwarji   2. Kisan Sabha gets Constructive	21 Dec   20 Feb	2020,   2021	Called for the establishment of a cohesive national agricultural market to remove state-level barriers.
Empowered Agricultural Marketing Reform Committee	1. Digital Farming?   2. Finally Announced: Agri Infra Fund to APMC	15 Apr   08 July	2021,   2021	Recommended a reform-focused committee to address challenges and ensure effective implementation of policies.
Promote consensus-building among states for uniform reforms	1. “Tractor-Pulled” to “Technology-Pushed”   2. Agri Reforms: an Ongoing Process	20 Sept   20 Nov	2021,     2021	Advocated for cooperative efforts among states to create a uniform framework for agricultural reforms.
Potential national law for agricultural marketing and standardised market fees	1. Point: Counter-Point // MSP: MPQ   2. Dear Kisan Leaders / Shri Tomarji: It is time to Shake Hands	28 Nov   07 Dec	2021,   2021	Suggested the enactment of a national law to streamline agricultural marketing and ensure fair practices.