Key Proposals of Draft

Establish Empowered Agricultural Marketing Reform Committee: comprising state agriculture ministers to build consensus among states to move towards unified national market for agriculture produce through single licensing /registration system & single fee.
- It may be chaired by Agriculture Minister of any state on rotational basis similar to Empowered Committee on GST.
Improve farmer-Market linkages: Declare large number of need-based warehouses/cold storages as sub-market yards; expand & consolidate eNAM beyond APMC markets e.g., to sub-market yards.
Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMCs) Reforms: Encourage APMCs to improve their income by notifying new agricultural produce, promoting food processing activities etc. rather than exorbitantly imposing market fee & other fee/cess.
Other:
- Strengthen Value Chain Centric Infrastructure using AI, blockchain technology etc with private sector participation
- Launch Price Insurance Scheme to insure the farmers' income for their assured income at the time of sowing itself.
- Promote Ease of Doing AgriTrade by Digital automation of mandi processes; digital issuance of license/registration to traders, private market operators, etc.

Agriculture Marketing in India

Agricultural marketing a State subject under Entry 28 of List-II (State List) of VII Schedule under article 246 of the Constitution.
Challenges: Fragmented and Inefficient Supply Chain, Market access, Poor Infrastructure, Complex Regulations etc.
Initiatives Undertaken: Formation & Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce Organizations, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Gramin Agricultural Markets etc