New Delhi: In response to the continuous demand from farmers, traders, and other stakeholders for the inclusion of more agricultural commodities, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, has decided to further expand the scope of trade under e-NAM. This initiative aims to increase the coverage of agricultural commodities and offer more opportunities for farmers and traders to benefit from the digital trading platform. The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) has formulated tradable parameters for 10 additional agricultural commodities. These new commodity parameters are a result of extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including state agencies, traders, subject matter specialists, and SFAC, with approval from the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

DMI has been entrusted with the formulation of tradable parameters for agricultural commodities to be traded on the e-NAM (National Agricultural Market) platform. These tradable parameters are designed to help farmers secure better prices for their produce by ensuring the quality and commerciality of agricultural products. This initiative enhances transparency, facilitates fair trading practices, and contributes to the overall growth of the agricultural sector.

DMI has formulated tradable parameters for 221 agricultural commodities, which are available on the e-NAM platform. The following 10 additional commodities will increase the list to 231 commodities: dried tulsi leaves, besan (chickpea flour), wheat flour, chana sattu (roasted chickpea flour), and water chestnut flour in the miscellaneous commodities category. In the spices category, asafoetida and dried fenugreek leaves are added. The vegetables category now includes water chestnut and baby corn, while the fruits category introduces dragon fruit. Commodities like chana sattu, asafoetida, and dried fenugreek leaves fall under secondary trade, offering FPOs an opportunity to market value-added products and formalise trade in the sector.

These newly approved tradable parameters will be available on the e-NAM portal (enam.gov.in), further strengthening the platform's capacity to facilitate the digital trading of agricultural commodities. This move will provide farmers with improved market access, better pricing, and enhanced quality assurance, thus supporting their economic well-being. The formulation of these additional tradable parameters aligns with the Government’s ongoing efforts to modernise the agricultural sector, ensuring greater inclusivity, efficiency, and market transparency.

BI Bureau