To promote agricultural exports and global competitiveness, reforms were extended to the agricultural sector as well. Which of the following initiatives aims to create a seamless national market for agricultural commodities?​

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) e-NAM

• e-NAM (Electronic National Agricultural Market), launched in 2016, is an initiative aimed at creating a seamless national market for agricultural commodities.

• It was designed to connect Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across India, allowing farmers to sell their produce to buyers from anywhere in the country through an online platform.

• The platform enhances price discovery, promotes transparency, and reduces the role of middlemen, benefiting farmers and promoting agricultural exports.

Information Booster:

• e-NAM Platform (Launched in 2016):

• The e-NAM platform integrates APMCs across India to create a unified market for agricultural commodities. This initiative facilitates price transparency and more efficient trading, benefiting farmers by providing them with a wider reach to sell their produce.

• e-NAM promotes national integration in agricultural markets, reducing dependency on physical markets and middlemen.

• PM-KISAN (Launched in 2019):

• PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) was launched in 2019 to provide financial assistance to farmers. It is a direct income support scheme where eligible farmers receive ₹6,000 annually in three equal installments. While this scheme supports farmers financially, it does not aim at creating a national market for agricultural commodities.

• Kisan Credit Card (Launched in 1998):

• The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, launched in 1998, aims to provide farmers with easy access to credit for agricultural activities such as purchasing seeds, fertilizers, and equipment. This scheme helps meet credit needs but is not aimed at creating a unified national market for agricultural products.

• APMC Act (Implemented in 1966):

• The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act was implemented in 1966 to regulate agriculture markets at the state level and ensure fair pricing for farmers. While this Act regulates local markets, e-NAM aims to integrate APMCs into a national market.