PM Modi to launch National Agriculture Market portal to connect e-mandis

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch National Agriculture Market portal to connect e-mandis in several states at a function in the national capital on the 125th birth anniversary of Bhim Rao Ambedkar on Thursday evening. "In the evening will launch e-trading platform for the National Agriculture Market. 21 mandis from 8 States will join the platform today," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. "The national agriculture market will enable farmers in eight states to sell 25 commodities online in 21 wholesale mandis and get better prices," Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Wednesday. "The states include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh," he added. Singh also said that the government is aiming to integrate 200 mandis by September this year and entire 585 mandis by March 2018. "About 200 crore rupees has been sanctioned for this purpose," he added. Singh also said the online trade will initially be allowed within the state and inter-state trade will be possible once all states and mandis are integrated. "Over 25 commodities including onion, potato, apple, wheat, pulses, coarse grains and cotton, have been identified for online trading. To integrate a wholesale mandi with the online platform, the state governments have to amend their Agriculture Produce Market Committee Act," he added. The Agriculture Minister further said the government has received proposals from 12 states for integration of 365 wholesale mandis. The 21 mandis from eight states have been selected for the pilot launch.