The Delhi government has decided on an ambitious plan to transform its wholesale fruit and vegetable markets into ‘ e-mandis’ .
As part of this project, all mandis will be connected with a centralised system with supplies being tracked on a real-time basis.
Although a mammoth task, if successfully implemented, the project would result in greater transparency by eliminating the middlemen. “The farmers would benefit the most with the e-mandi system as they would get the actual price of their produce, which at present is primarily taken away by the middlemen,” said a member of the Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board.
As of now, whatever little money the farmers get for their produce reaches them a month or so late. Officials say the new system will allow for their money to be squared off in just two days. The move is also expected to help regulate prices of agricultural produce, thereby eliminating the monopoly of some vendors.
The government plans to reform the Azadpur Mandi, which is touted as the largest fruit and vegetable market in Asia, to begin with. “The plan is to make real-time data available online. There will be a transparent auction system wherein all buyers and sellers will know the type and quantity of produce entering the market,” another official said. The proposal also includes giving smart cards to registered traders, sellers and transporters, which would give daily readings of their exchanges. The system of e-auction will also be introduced later.
However, the project may prove to be an uphill task for the government as it is unlikely that the traders benefitting from the current situation will support the initiative.
Also, the Azadpur Mandi is a land-locked market, which rules out any scope of extension, and is overcrowded with more than 1,000 traders making it their base — that may become an obstacle in infrastructural works.
Source : The Hindu
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