logo
Centre adds 7 new farm products to e-NAM platform for better pricing

Centre adds 7 new farm products to e-NAM platform for better pricing

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday announced the inclusion of an additional seven products, including Banarasi paan, on the e-NAM platform in a bid to provide more opportunities and better prices to farmers.
The seven commodities include sugarcane, Marcha rice, Katarni rice, Jardalu mango, Shahi litchi, Magahi paan and Banarasi paan.
With this, the total number of products on the e-NAM platform has now increased to 238.
"This move will assure farmers better market access, better pricing and improved quality, thereby boosting their economic well-being," according to an official statement.
The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) under the agriculture ministry has prepared tradable parameters for seven additional agri-products, which are available on the e-NAM portal (enam.gov.in).
Creation of tradable parameters provides a category or range for each product and helps farmers get remunerative prices based on the quality of the produce.
The new products were approved after extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including state agencies, traders, subject-matter experts and Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC).
Further, based on the requests and feedback received from various stakeholders, tradable parameters of four existing products have been revised, namely, water chestnut flour, baby corn and dragon fruit.
Launched in 2016, eNAM is a government initiative to digitise and unify agricultural commodity trading in India, enhancing market efficiency and farmer income through technology-enabled transparent trading.
The platform supports online bidding, real-time price discovery, quality-based transparent auctions, and immediate payment settlements.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

CM says Karnataka will take up issue of GST notices to small traders with Centre
CM says Karnataka will take up issue of GST notices to small traders with Centre

The Hindu

time5 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

CM says Karnataka will take up issue of GST notices to small traders with Centre

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the State government will take up with the Centre the issue of small traders getting GST notices from the Commercial Taxes Department for transactions through UPI. He also made it clear that the issue would be discussed with the State Commercial Taxes Department before making a decision in this regard. 'The Goods and Sales Tax (GST) Council comes under the purview of the Centre. However, the State government will take up the matter with the Union government and discuss it with the State's Commercial Taxes Department, and take a decision,' Mr. Siddaramaiah told presspersons in Mysuru. It may be noted that a section of the small and micro traders in the State have taken exception to getting notices with respect to taxes based on their transactions via UPI. Meanwhile, asking the small traders not to worry about the GST-related notices, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar accused the Union government of creating trouble for small traders and street vendors by introducing GST. 'Notices are being issued to those who are conducting business of over ₹40 lakh,' he said in Hoskote, near here, where an event was organised to distribute government benefits. He said: 'This is the achievement of the Union government. The traders do not have to worry. We will take necessary actions to protect their interests.' The Deputy Chief Minister said though the State had appealed to the Centre several times seeking funds over the last two years, the BJP MPs are not speaking. 'They are not concerned about the poor in the State.' Accusing the BJP of not doing enough, he said that the Congress government was committed to getting Yettinahole waters to Bengaluru North district before 2027 and the government had decided to prepare a DPR to bring metro to Hoskote. 'We will ensure it is approved during our term.' Mr. Shivakumar also pointed out that the government had taken steps to regularise B-khata properties in Bengaluru, and that over a crore patta khatas are being given to Scheduled Tribes.

Explained: Biostimulants that aid plant growth, now under the Centre's scrutiny
Explained: Biostimulants that aid plant growth, now under the Centre's scrutiny

Indian Express

time33 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Explained: Biostimulants that aid plant growth, now under the Centre's scrutiny

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week wrote to Chief Ministers of all states to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers. Chouhan highlighted complaints that retailers are not selling subsidised fertilisers like urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) to farmers unless they purchase biostimulants. He also said that many farmers had recently raised complaints about the inefficacy of biostimulants. 'It is necessary to review biostimulants thoroughly to see how much benefit the farmers are getting from it; if not, then permission to sell it cannot be given,' he said. The substances stimulate physiological processes in plants and help enhance the yield from a harvest. Plant-derived waste materials and seaweed extracts are at times used in their production. Officially, the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, which regulates the manufacturing and sale of biostimulants, defines it as 'a substance or microorganism or a combination of both whose primary function when applied to plants, seeds or rhizosphere is to stimulate physiological processes in plants and to enhance its nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress… but does not include pesticides or plant growth regulators which are regulated under the Insecticide Act, 1968.' Market research firm Fortune Business Insights noted, 'The India biostimulants market size was valued at USD 355.53 million in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 410.78 million in 2025 to USD 1,135.96 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 15.64% during the forecast period.' Chouhan said that around 30,000 biostimulant products had been sold unchecked for several years, and even in the last four years, around 8,000 products remained in circulation. 'After I enforced stricter checks, the number has now come down to approximately 650,' he said in a statement on July 15. As biostimulants did not fall under the existing fertiliser or pesticide categories, they were sold in the open market without government approval for a long time. In India, fertilisers and pesticides are governed by the 1985 Fertiliser Control Order and the Insecticides Act of 1968, respectively. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare issues the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and makes changes to it from time to time. However, in 2011, the Punjab and Haryana High Court made an observation. Any manufacturer producing a bioproduct claiming to be a substitute for insecticides or fertiliser, but not covered under the rules, was to apply to the respective Director General of Agriculture, in the case of Haryana and Punjab. This paved the way for states to take samples of these products and check them before allowing their sale to farmers. As the sale of biostimulants increased over the years, it caught the Centre's attention. In 2017, NITI Aayog, the government's premier think tank, and the Agriculture Ministry started working on a framework for biostimulants. Finally, in February 2021, the ministry amended the 1985 FCO and included biostimulants, paving the way for their regulated manufacturing, sale and import. The inclusion of biostimulants empowered the Central government to fix specifications. The FCO classified biostimulants specified in Schedule VI of the FCO in eight categories, including botanical extracts (as well as seaweed extracts), bio-chemicals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Every manufacturer or importer of a biostimulant shall make an application to the Controller of Fertilisers along with the requisite product information. The product's chemistry, source (natural extracts of plant/microbe/animal/synthetic), shelf-life, reports of bio-efficacy trials, and toxicity must be submitted, along with other data. The five basic acute toxicity tests are: (i) Acute oral (Rat) (ii) Acute dermal (Rat) (iii) Acute Inhalation (Rat) (iv) Primary skin Irritation (Rabbit) (v) Eye irritation (Rabbit) The four eco-toxicity tests are: (i) Toxicity to birds (ii) Toxicity to Fish (Freshwater) (iii) Toxicity to honeybees (iv) Toxicity to earthworm The FCO clearly states that no biostimulant shall contain any pesticide beyond the permissible limit of 0.01ppm. Further, agronomic bio-efficiency trials shall be conducted under the National Agricultural Research System, including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and state agricultural universities. 'Bio-efficacy trials shall be conducted at minimum three different doses for one season at three agro-ecological locations,' it states. Additionally, on April 9, 2021, the agriculture ministry constituted the Central Biostimulant Committee for five years, with the Agriculture Commissioner as its Chairperson and seven other members. Under the FCO, it shall advise the Centre on: (i) inclusion of a new biostimulant; (ii) specifications of various biostimulants; (iii) methods of drawing of samples and its analysis; (iv) minimum requirements of laboratory; (v) method of testing of biostimulants; (vi) any other matter referred to it by the central government. According to the FCO order, amended in 2021, manufacturers could make and sell biostimulants for two years if they made an application for provisional registration. Sources say that the Agriculture Ministry kept extending the two-year deadline, which allowed most of the manufacturers as of 2021 to continue making and selling biostimulants based on provisional registration. Whereas, under the regular registration, companies have to submit testing protocols to the government. On March 17, in the latest extension of the provisional certificate facility, the ministry allowed biostimulants' sale for three months until June 16. It applied to all companies manufacturing or importing a biostimulant as of March 17, for which no standards were specified. With the March 17 notification having expired, the companies having provisional certificates and stocks of biostimulants cannot sell their products in the market now, said a source. In addition to this, the Agriculture Ministry notified 'Specifications of Biostimulants' on May 26 for several crops, including tomato, chilli, cucumber, paddy, brinjal, cotton, potato, green gram, grape, hot pepper, soybean, maize, and onion. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More

Karnataka CM to engage commercial taxes dept as GST notices scare small biz away from UPI
Karnataka CM to engage commercial taxes dept as GST notices scare small biz away from UPI

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Karnataka CM to engage commercial taxes dept as GST notices scare small biz away from UPI

Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said he will take a call on the flood of notices the commercial taxes department has issued to small businessmen and vendors demanding GST dues, even as a combative BJP has announced a helpline offering to fight for micro public outcry arising from the GST notices has resulted in scores of businessmen in Bengaluru and outside going back to cash transactions, shunning the use of UPI. Many businesses have put out displays from small signboards to large banners announcing they will no longer accept payment via state GST officials used the UPI data of the last four financial years gathered from service providers to issue notices to unregistered merchants asking them to get GST registrations and pay up tax CM, responding to queries from the media in Mysuru district, stated that the GST law was enacted by the Union government, and the subject falls under the purview of the GST Council. Nevertheless, he would discuss with the central government as well as the state's commercial taxes department and make a suitable BJP has announced it will activate a helpline on Monday to help small merchants and vendors affected by the GST notices. The party also stated that the GST notices were an attempt by the Congress party to deter people from using the hugely popular UPI and undermine the Centre's digital economy MP and former CM Basavaraj Bommai has called the GST notices a shocker to small and micro traders while urging the CM to immediately intervene and stop what he called unfair targeting of small businesses. The notices have disrupted the life of street vendors, many of whom have closed their businesses, he urged the CM to call the small traders for discussions and offer them concessions in tax payment under a one-time settlement scheme. Other states have already taken appropriate measures in this regard, he said the commercial taxes department has taken the harsh step as the state's finances are under pressure and tax collections have fallen in the first leader in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said the government had slapped notices on small traders and street vendors by considering all UPI remittances including the loans they have borrowed and transfers from within the family as business commercial taxes department has maintained it has issued notices only in cases where the UPI transaction data for years since 2021-22 showed a turnover requiring GST registration and payment of tax. The department has also started a helpline after coming to know of reports that some officials and middlemen were offering to settle the notices in return for bribes.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store