Application of ICT & e-NAM in agricultural marketing strengthens farmers, gives productive outcome
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 26 2019: A training programme on "Application & Communication Technology (ICT) and electronic -National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) in agricultural marketing" was kicked off at Youth Hostel, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex today.

The training was organised by Manipur Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (MSFAC) in association with Freshies Fresh.com, under National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur.

Chief Conservator of Forests, GoM Th Mohendra Pratap, Principal Scientist (Seed Technology) ICAR Imphal Dr I Meghachandra, MSFAC project co-ordinator MS Khaidem, KVK Thoubal Senior Scientist as well as Head Dr Zeshmarani Sarangthem and Freshies Fresh.com proprietor N Shanta attended the function as presidium members.

Application of ICT & e-NAM in agricultural marketing strengthens farmers, gives productive outcome

Speaking at the function attended by farmers from different parts of the State and Farmers Producers Companies (FPOs) representatives, Th Mohendra Pratap maintained that farmers are the group of people who plays the most crucial role in the country, which is called the land of villages, as they are the ones who produce and help maintain & improve the country's economy.

The case is same for Manipur as well, he noted.

Mohendra further stated that the initiative of the Prime Minister to double the farmers' income by 2020 is not just a mere vision.

However, it is necessary for farmers to adopt the kind of agricultural techniques and marketing strategies which are being adopted across the globe.

Although the farmers in the State are able to meet the production demands, the right strategy and process of marketing are still lagging behind, he added.

He expressed belief that MSFAC and Freshies Fresh, under NIAM, have conducted such training on ICT and e-NAM with the intention to solve the lack of awareness on new and improved techniques for agriculture and marketing.

He further appealed to the farmers to be creative by utilising the knowledge imparted during the training programme.

Meanwhile, MSFAC project coordinator MS Khaidem stated that the idea of ICT and e-NAM is still new among the farmers.

He stated that farmers can increase their production through ICT by taking into account various factors like climate and seasonal change, pests control, new seeds, soil testing etc.

Farmers can also check the rate of products and items from the comfort of their own homes apart from buying and selling through ICT, Khaidem added.

He continued that many ICT apps like Agmarket, Agrisnet, Digital Mandi and e-Arik are available for farmers to make the whole process easier and quicker.

On the other hand, e-NAM is a platform, accepted across the country, for farmers to conduct their buying-selling business, he added.

NAM's implementing agency is SFACs and for this purpose, an Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) should be formed, he said while adding that currently, there are 585 APMC network present in the country.

Unfortunately, there is not a single APMC in Manipur owing to the disagreement of farmers in the hill districts of Manipur despite the passing of the Agricultural Produce & Livestock Marketing (promotion & Facilitation) Bill in 2017-18.Maintaining that the disagreement by the farmers of the hill districts is also reasonable, he added that for an APMC to set up in the State, there should be a board formed under APMC.

The chairman for the board of directors and the members of the said board should be selected by the State Government and it will change into an election after a year of the selection.

In order to enter the contest for the election of the board, a person should carry a land record which is not possible for farmers residing in the hills as the MLR&LR Act is not implemented in the hills.

MS Khaidem stated that the Cabinet has decided to withdraw the said Bill while the Government has also discussed about conducting the election by using the documents provided by district authority.