Government’s Active Role in Agricultural Marketing:
Although agricultural marketing is mainly a responsibility of the state governments, the central government regularly steps in with necessary actions. This is to ensure farmers get fair prices for their produce and to maintain a balance between supply and demand. Prices of perishable crops, especially fruits and vegetables, are often affected by factors such as market demand, supply levels, trade policies, and taxes.
To protect farmers from sudden price drops and market instability, the government has launched several schemes. One of the key schemes is the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), which allows the government to purchase perishable crops when prices fall too low. Additionally, the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), an online platform, helps farmers get better prices through transparent digital bidding.
Farmers can now get updated mandi (market) prices from across the country through the Agmarknet portal, helping them make informed decisions. Also, under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), farmers and entrepreneurs can get low-interest loans to build storage, cold chains, and processing units. This helps in storing produce safely and selling it later at better prices, instead of making distress sales.
Income Protection under PM-AASHA Scheme:
The PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan) includes MIS as a component to protect farmers from losses. When there's a bumper harvest and prices fall sharply, the government purchases the produce on the request of state governments. The cost is shared between the central and state governments. This helps prevent farmers from selling their crops at throwaway prices.
New Additions to MIS from 2024-25:
From the 2024-25 season, two new features have been added to the MIS:
These efforts aim to give farmers more security, fair income, and encourage sustainable farming practices.
Read More- Bitter Gourd Farming: Know Right Method and Suitable Weather
