Latest news with #e-NAM
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
MoF: Accept or reject, don't ignore
On June 19, 2025, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) convened a rare meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Finance. I think it was the first meeting since the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha in June 2024. The members are MPs of both Houses representing all parties nominated to the Committee. It is a useful mechanism if the government intends to use it. The finance minister (FM) presides over the meeting. The meeting on June 19 was formal — in fact, too formal and stiff. The chief economic adviser (CEA) made a 19-slide power point presentation (PPT), members were invited to make their comments and observations, the finance secretary summarized — literally encapsulated — the comments but offered no answers or clarifications, and the FM made her closing remarks. On no issue was there a consultation. Fortunately, in the 19th slide of his PPT, the CEA requested suggestions from members on four issues: For further improving farm productivity; Agenda for deregulation to reduce compliance burdens esp. for industry; Adapting our skilling programmes to AI and tech-driven disruptions; and How to accelerate formalization of the economy. I did not wish to make off-the-cuff suggestions at the meeting. I have since thought about the four issues and here are my suggestions: One of the slides mentioned MSP, PM-Kisan, PM-Fasal Bima, KCC, e-NAM and Food Parks: these are intended to increase efficiency and consequently boost productivity. In another slide on 'empowering farmers', the data on increase in yield per acre for major crops has been given. In each major crop, the increase in yield per hectare between 2013-14 and 2023-24 has been in double-digits. In fact, we have been on the right path since the days of the green revolution beginning 1965 and not only since 2013-14. However, productivity must be measured against world standards: Crop India Global Avg Best in average (Kg per the World /best hectare) Wheat 3,559 3,548 EU/Egypt /5,045 6,500-7,700 Rice 2,882 4,700 China 6,500 /4,516 Maize 3,351 5,824 USA 10,532 /6,239 Sugarcane 84,906 75,000 Brazil 75,000 /105,000 Cotton 443/602 1,040 China 2,252 There is another metric of productivity: productivity per farmer/farm worker. 58 per cent of the Indian population (as against 22 per cent in China) depends on agriculture and agriculture-related activities. Hence, the productivity per farmer is very low in India, and the average farmer is not only poor but is also burdened by debt. The way to accelerate productivity per farmer is to create non-farm jobs and to wean millions away from agriculture into non-farm jobs. However, because of high urban unemployment and the lamentable state of the manufacturing sector, that process has been in a start-stop mode; actually, there is data that in recent years labour has moved back to the agriculture sector. Suggestion: Accelerate the growth rate and expansion of the manufacturing sector. After 2014-15, the Modi government has re-established more control. RBI, SEBI, Ministry of Company Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, the Income-tax department, UGC and every other Ministry or arm of government have made hundreds of pages of rules and regulations. The old control regime has come back as 'regulations'. Government authorities exert power and control through disputation and litigation. Doing business in India means challenging regulations and orders, and seeking redress in courts and tribunals. The GST laws have added to the burdens of business. The high and multiple rates of GST are per se bad. The rules, regulations, notifications, forms and compliances under the GST laws are worse. Together with the manner in which the laws are interpreted and applied by the Income-tax, Customs, DGFT and GST departments, it is a nightmare for any business. The CBI, ED, DRI, GST enforcement and SFIO seem to regard every businessperson as a suspect and every chartered accountant and lawyer as an accomplice. If trade and industry have to be the prime drivers of the economy, the suffocating environment in which they find themselves must be removed. Suggestion: Light a bonfire every quarter, there is enough rubbish to burn. Read the Annual Status of Education Reports (ASER). The appalling levels of reading, writing and arithmetic skills of school children virtually rule out a technologically- empowered society. The triumvirate of UGC, NTA and NAAC have robbed the Universities of the essential character of a University — autonomy, inquiry and strive for excellence. They have driven serious teachers, scholars and researchers to foreign lands. The central and state governments have tied Universities hand and foot by starving them of funds. Thousands of teaching posts in Universities are vacant. According to a reply in Parliament, as on October 31, 2024, there were 5,182 teaching posts in central universities that were unfilled. I am afraid the way forward on this vexed issue lies far outside the ambit of MoF. Suggestion: CEA may delete this issue from his to-do list. What does the CEA mean by 'formalization of the economy'? Does he want more economic activities that are carried on in the 'informal' economy (e.g. part-time maid services in middle class homes) formalized? Suggestion: Absent clarity, I have none. Please accept the suggestions; or reject them; do not ignore them.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Cotton auctions in Mayiladuthurai to begin June 16 in regulated markets
In a move to ensure fair pricing and enhance the income of cotton farmers, the Tamil Nadu government will commence the procurement of cotton through the electronic National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) platform from June 16. The auctions will take place across four regulated market yards in Mayiladuthurai district — Kuthalam, Mayiladuthurai, Sembanarkoil, and Sirkazhi. Collector H.S. Srikanth in a statement said the cotton cultivators had been advised to bring clean, well-dried cotton to the yards, separating higher-quality produce from the rest. Farmers were requested to avoid using plastic sacks for transport to ensure accurate weighing and better prices during auction. To participate, farmers must carry a copy of their Aadhaar card and bank passbook and register at the market yards. The Cotton Corporation of India and ginning mill owners from districts, including Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Theni, Dindigul, Thanjavur, and Kumbakonam, had been informed and invited to join the procurement process. The cotton auctions would be conducted weekly at designated timings in the four market yards. For specific queries regarding the auctions, farmers may contact the respective market yards for guidance and information, Mr. Srikanth added.
New Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Our farmers have gone from facing debt and uncertainty to enjoying dignity: PM Modi
Through a series of posts, Modi emphasised the transformative impact of his government's farmer-centric policies over the past decade, describing it as an era of dignity and prosperity for agriculture. He stressed that continuous hikes in MSP have ensured fair compensation while boosting incomes. Official communications framed this mission as "empowering Annadatas" and "strengthening India's backbone." "From facing debt and uncertainty, our farmers now enjoy dignity through direct income support, better prices, modern infrastructure, and global market access," the government stated, adding that agriculture has grown substantially, with farmers becoming key partners in India's development. Under Modi's "visionary leadership," no farmer is left behind. Notable achievements include: Establishment of 43,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), integration of 15,000 Mandis on the e-NAM portal, digital enrollment of nearly 2 crore farmers and 2.6 lakh traders, Rs 3.79 lakh crore in recorded agri-trade over 11 years, MSP allocations growing from Rs 7.41 lakh crore to Rs 23.61 lakh crore, and agricultural support increasing nearly threefold from Rs 8.5 lakh crore to Rs 25.49 lakh crore. Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended these efforts, "Today, our farmers are empowered contributors to nation-building with self-respect." BJP President JP Nadda added that PM Modi's leadership has prioritised farmers through schemes like PM-Kisan and PM Fasal Bima Yojana, ensuring they receive deserved dignity and support.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Ramanathapuram farmers demand crop insurance, flood relief at grievance meeting
Farmers, during the grievance meeting here on Friday, raised the issue of non-disbursal of crop insurance amount to those persons whose crops were damaged due to various reasons in the last two years. Demanding for the re-survey of damaged crops in the district, farmers said that though the crop insurance amount was released to few farmers, the amount was not released for those whose paddy crops were lost to the unseasonal rains and water scarcity, due to leaving out many areas from the survey process, Also, as 80% of chilli crops were damaged in the district, the crop insurance amount should be given to those farmers, they added. More than 50 farmers from Orivayal village of Kadaladi taluk went into a heated argument with the officials for not including the 1,000 acre farmland for compensation, as their paddy crops had damaged due to the unseasonal rains. Similarly, a group of farmers from Melasirupothu, Sakkiyankulam and Senthaneri demanded flood relief fund for 2023-24. They alleged that a vast area of crops was washed away during the heavy rains which lashed many parts of the Southern district. As they too had not received the crop insurance amount for 2024-25, they urged immediate disbursal of the insurance amount. Michael, a farmer from Mudukulathur, said that the e-NAM, an online platform that connects agricultural commodity traders and primarily farmers, with buyers across India, which was started in the Paramakudi regulated market in 2015 was yet to kick off. He added that the crop insurance was not released for the farmers of Vagaikulam village in Kadaladi taluk. 'Farmers who have grown cotton in several acres of land in Paramakudi, Kamuthi taluk have suffered loss due to the damage caused by wild boars,' said Malaichamy, a farmer from Paramakudi. Though they have submitted petitions regarding their grievance with the forest department officials, he said that the officials without a proper survey were denying the presence of wild boars in the nearby areas. District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon assured the farmers that their demands would be directed to the departments concerned and the process for addressing them would be expedited.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
₹222.23 crore trade transacted in the last four years under e-NAM system in Tiruppur
Transactions to the extent of ₹222.23 crore have been made over the last four years through select regulated markets in Tiruppur district under the ambit of the National Agricultural Market Scheme (e-NAM), according to officials of the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business. A total of 3,6837.21 tonnes have been sold, benefitting 32,504 farmers and 2,985 traders. Of the 157 regulated markets in Tamil Nadu under the e-NAM scheme, nine are in Tiruppur - Tiruppur town, Udumalpet, Pethappampatti, Vellakovil, Mulanur, Madathukulam, Kangayam, Pongalur and Sevur. Traders from other districts and other regulated markets also participate in the electronic auction, drawn by the assurance of accurate quality standards and higher price for produce. The amount is being credited directly to the farmers' bank accounts. In the past four years, nearly 183 tonnes of agricultural products, valued at ₹9.66 crore, were traded through the E-NAM platform under the farm gate trade. This transaction benefited 633 farmers and 311 traders. Additionally, inter-mandi transactions accounted for 377.59 tonnes of commodities worth ₹29.06 crore. The department, it is learnt, is reaching out to farmers with information about the expansion of the e-NAM Platform, following the addition of 10 new commodities by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare during February, 2025. The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) had formulated tradable parameters for the 10 new commodities, after extensive consultation with key stakeholders, to enable the farmers to secure better prices for their produce by ensuring the quality and commerciality of agricultural products. The addition has increased the number of agricultural commodities to 231.
