Starting Mandi Rate Facility on Mobile Phone: A Step Towards Empowering Farmers
India is an agrarian country, and agriculture remains its primary occupation. About 58% of the Indian population depend on agriculture as their source of livelihood. Despite being the primary occupation, farmers in India face many challenges and difficulties. One of the key challenges is getting the right price for their produce. The government has been trying to address this issue by setting up mandis or markets for farmers. However, accessing information about mandi rates is often a cumbersome process. To overcome this challenge, the government has taken a significant step towards empowering farmers by introducing the mandi rate facility on mobile phones.
Mandi rates are the prices at which farmers can sell their produce at various markets or mandis. The mandi rate facility on mobile phones allows farmers to know the prices at different markets in real-time. This information helps farmers decide the best market to sell their produce and get the best price for it. The mandi rate facility on mobile phones is a significant step towards empowering farmers as it enables them to make informed decisions about selling their produce.
The mandi rate facility on mobile phones is available through various portals and mobile applications, such as eNAM (National Agriculture Market). eNAM is an online trading platform for agricultural commodities that allows farmers to sell their produce through a transparent bidding process. The mandi rate facility on eNAM is available 24×7 and can be accessed from anywhere. The facility provides real-time information about mandi rates, arrival and quality of produce, and the traders operating in various mandis. Moreover, eNAM also provides a platform for farmers to interact with traders directly, thereby eliminating middlemen and ensuring a fair price for their produce.
Another mobile application that provides mandi rate facility is Agmarknet. Agmarknet is an initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that aims to provide real-time market information to farmers. The application provides information about mandi rates for various commodities, including fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Moreover, the application also provides alerts about the arrival of new stock and the quality of produce in various markets. Thus, the mandi rate facility on mobile phones through Agmarknet empowers farmers with critical information about the market, enabling them to make informed decisions.
In conclusion, the mandi rate facility on mobile phones is a significant step towards empowering farmers. The facility enables farmers to access real-time information about mandi rates, traders, and the arrival and quality of produce. By providing this information, the facility enables farmers to make informed decisions about selling their produce, thereby ensuring that they get the best price for it. Moreover, the facility also eliminates middlemen and brings transparency to the trading process, thereby promoting fair trade practices. The government and private players must continue to invest in digital initiatives aimed at empowering farmers, as it is through these initiatives that India can achieve its goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.