E-NAM

Launched on 14th April 2016, e-NAM is a pan-India electronic trading platform that links existing mandis to create a unified online market for agricultural commodities, promoting “One Nation One Market” and enabling transparent, efficient, and nationwide agri-trade.

The "e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)" is a pan-India electronic trading platform launched on 14th April 2016 to integrate APMC mandis across the country under the “One Nation One Market” initiative. Implemented by the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the platform provides online trading facilities for agricultural commodities. It offers services such as commodity arrival information, quality assaying, e-bidding, and direct e-payment to farmers through a single-window system. The scheme aims to improve transparency, efficiency, and better price discovery in agricultural marketing. In Jammu & Kashmir, 11 mandis have been integrated with the e-NAM platform since May 2020.

• The applicant State/UT must allow a single trading license valid across the State, issued through suitable legislation or executive orders.

• The process should be liberal, without barriers like high deposits, quantity restrictions, or mandatory purchase centers.

• The applicant State/UT must ensure single-point levy of market fee, applicable only at the first wholesale transaction.

• No additional charges should be levied on subsequent wholesale transactions of the same produce.

• The applicant State/UT must provide legal and infrastructural support for e-auction/e-trading, through relevant amendments or executive provisions.

• The applicant must submit proposals in the prescribed format and fulfill all three core reforms above to be eligible for the one-time grant for infrastructure setup (hardware, internet, assaying equipment, etc.).

• The applicant must commit to:

• Trading 100% of selected commodities through e-NAM in the proposed markets.
• Providing or linking markets to Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs).
• Covering extra implementation costs beyond the sanctioned amount.
• Bearing costs of software maintenance after 5 years.
• Registering the implementing agency on the PFMS portal and submitting necessary bank details to the Department.

• The applicant State/UT, if lacking an APMC Act or not enforcing it, must:

• Identify an appropriate institution/organization.
• Frame enforceable guidelines to enable e-trading, including trader registration, transaction norms, and infrastructure provisioning.

• The applicant private market, if applying, must:

• Be recommended by the concerned authority.
• Provide all necessary infrastructure and services (e.g., analyst, assaying facilities) at its own expense.

> For Farmers:

• Access to Pan-India Markets through a digital trading platform.
• Real-time Price Discovery based on demand and supply.
• Transparency in auction and payment processes.
• Better Prices through wider buyer participation.
• Online Payment directly to farmers' bank accounts.
• Free Quality Testing (Assaying) of produce in markets.
• Reduced Information Asymmetry–farmers can see prices and make informed decisions.

> For Markets (APMCs/RMCs):

• One-time Grant of up to ₹30 lakh per market for hardware, internet, assaying labs, etc.
• Free e-NAM Software is provided with customization for each state.
• Support Staff (1 person per market) provided for 1 year at no cost.
• Provision to use Cold Storages & Warehouses as market sub-yards.
• Infrastructure Support for setting up:

• e-auction halls.
• assaying labs.
• electronic weighbridges.
• training facilities.

> For State Governments / UTs:

• Eligibility for Central Funding upon adopting key APMC Act reforms:

• Single trading license for the state.
• Single-point market fee.
• Legal provision for e-trading.

• Support for Soil Testing Labs (STLs) under related schemes (NMSA/RKVY).
• Training, Dispute Resolution Mechanism, and linking more markets to e-NAM.