National Agriculture Market (eNAM)
The Context
The National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) is a transformative electronic trading portal designed to integrate existing physical Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis (markets) through a virtual platform, thereby creating a unified national market for agricultural commodities. The portal offers a comprehensive suite of services, including commodity arrivals, quality assessment, price information, buy and sell offers, and electronic payment settlement directly into farmers' accounts. By facilitating online marketing, e-NAM aims to reduce transaction costs, bridge information gaps, and expand market access for farmers.Farmers would gain real-time price discovery, mobile app features and market information. This is a multilingual platform. Unified licensing and online payments would ensure efficiency along with grievance redressal system that would address concerns. Integration with weather forecasts and existing schemes would further enhance the platforms usefulness.
Objectives
- To promote uniformity in agriculture marketing by streamlining of procedures across the integrated markets, removing information asymmetry between buyers.
- To promote real time price discovery based on actual demand and supply in agricultural marketing.
Activities
- Integration of APMCs across the country through a common online market platform to facilitate trade in agriculture commodities, providing better price discovery through transparent auction process based on quality of produce along with timely online payment
Key Pre-requisites
- Establishment of robust digital infrastructure, including reliable internet connectivity with a minimum speed of 2 Mbps
- Development of standardized data management systems and APIs for seamless trading
- Implementation of secure online platforms for transparent bidding and transactions
- Integration of comprehensive databases and registries for accurate market information
- Adoption of user-friendly interfaces and mobile applications for accessibility
- Training programs for farmers and market participants on digital trading platforms
The success of e-NAM in Nizamabad, India
In the district of Nizamabad in Telangana, India, the e-NAM platform was implemented in the Mandi with a focus on automating the weighing, cleaning, and grading systems to improve price estimation. Electronic weighing machines connected to Point of Sale (PoS) machines and assaying labs were set up within the market yard for grading purposes. Infrastructure improvements included the construction of a rest house, canteen, and meeting halls. A Direct Purchase Centre (DPC) was established to facilitate commission-free trade. The market fees were regulated according to norms, and e-takpatti was introduced for the generation of e-sale bills.
This initiative aims to enhance accountability within the APMC and increase transparency in deductions made for farmer services. Electronic display boards were installed to show market rates and transaction details, while SMS alerts were integrated at each stage to improve service delivery. The initiative also facilitated access to financing for purchasers and offered interest-free loans to farmers for storing their produce in warehouses. From April 1, 2025, to December 31, 2016, these efforts resulted in significant outcomes: a total trade value of Rs 77 crores, with 100% of proposed commodities traded on the e-NAM portal and participation from 103 traders. The e-NAM scheme demonstrates the potential for enhanced efficiency, transparency, and increased farmer income through effective implementation.
