The Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing, in conjunction with the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA), orchestrated an outreach initiative at SKICC, Srinagar, focusing on warehouse registration and the integration of controlled atmosphere (CA) stores with the e-NAM portal. The e-National Warehouse Receipts (e-NWR) issued by WDRA-registered warehouses are pivotal instruments for trade and loan transactions. E-NAM, a nationwide electronic trading portal, links existing Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis to establish a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
The e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) portal contributes to increasing farmers’ income by providing them with a transparent and competitive online platform for selling their produce. By networking existing APMC mandis nationwide, e-NAM expands farmers’ market access, enabling them to reach a broader pool of buyers and discover competitive prices for their crops. The platform reduces the role of intermediaries, allowing farmers to receive a higher share of the final selling price. With fair competition among buyers, farmers can secure better prices for their produce. Additionally, e-NAM’s online trading system minimises post-harvest losses by facilitating faster and more efficient sales. The integration of e-NWR provides farmers with access to credit opportunities, further enhancing their financial flexibility. Overall, e-NAM empowers farmers with market information, fair pricing, and direct access to buyers, contributing to an increase in their income. The WDRA is aiding CA stores by offering crucial support and incentives. The integration of CA stores with WDRA allows them to register and leverage the e-NWR, acting as valuable instruments for trade and credit. This initiative not only facilitates seamless trading on platforms like e-NAM but also enables CA stores to serve as sub-yards of Mandis, streamlining the e-NAM trade process.
This commendable and innovative initiative is poised to have a profound impact on securing more lucrative pricing for farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, a region boasting a diverse spectrum of agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture. With its renowned products ranging from globally recognised rice varieties, high-quality apples, cherries, and dry fruits to saffron and an extensive array of flowers, the agricultural landscape in the region is rich and varied. The introduction of CA storage and regulated warehousing presents the potential for a revolutionary transformation in both farming practices and the marketing of agricultural produce. Given the perishable nature of horticultural produce and the impracticality of air transport due to volume constraints, efficient warehousing and pre-booking mechanisms emerge as indispensable solutions. In the face of stiff competition from neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and international imports, integration into a comprehensive storage and marketing platform becomes imperative. The farmers, spanning across all districts, stand to reap immense benefits from this initiative. The scarcity of CA stores, coupled with accessible credit and loans, is expected to catalyse the establishment of more such facilities. The integration of all mandis into the e-NAM platform marks a significant stride towards a more expansive and connected agricultural marketplace, promising increased outreach to farmers and stakeholders.
The magnanimous gesture of waiving the registration fee stands as a commendable initiative, affording an opportune moment for CA store proprietors to undergo registration. The diligent endeavours of the department are yielding substantial returns, as evidenced by the meteoric surge in trade volumes through the e-NAM portal. The progression from a modest 89 lakhs in the fiscal year 2021-22 to now surpassing the monumental threshold of 300 crores in the ongoing fiscal year 2023-24 attests to the tangible impact of these measures. The propagation of further awareness and the orchestration of interactive sessions of this nature promises to be pivotal catalysts for augmenting trade through e-NAM portals. Given the array of advantages proffered by e-NAM, it unequivocally asserts itself as the quintessential future of trading. Recognising the inevitability of e-marketing in the future, the administration’s awareness programme underscores a concerted effort to double the income of farmers in the region.
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