Performance and prospects of enam in Gujarat

Marketing of agricultural commodities in India is carried out through the state enacted Agricultural Produce Marketing Regulation Acts (APMRA). Under this system, a vast network of regulated markets has been established. However, over time, these markets have become restrictive and monopolistic and have, therefore, failed not only to achieve their basic objectives owing to restrictive provisions of Acts prevented a seamless integration of farmers and buyers and evolution of an efficient supply chain. Realizing the urgent need to address the challenges of the existing agricultural marketing system, the Union Government has introduced a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of National Agriculture Market through a common electronic market platform, called the electronic National Agricultural Market or e-NAM. The e-NAM aims to integrate all the agricultural markets of the country and envisages a common national market for agricultural commodities with seamless movement across state boundaries. This is envisioned as a solution to marketing issues of all stake holders - farmers, traders, retailers, consumers and logistic providers. The common e-market platform envisaged networking of selected 585 wholesale markets in desirous states/UTs by March 2018. It was recorded on eNAM portal that till July 31, 2017, out of 585 targeted markets, 455 markets across 13 states were live on e-NAM. The present paper highlights the extent of implementation of eNAM and realization of the expected benefits of e-NAM in the state of Gujarat.