The Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Marketing aims to provide adequate infrastructure and assistance for the agricultural marketing sector in the country, ensuring fair prices and reducing waste of agricultural products. The article examines the different aspects of ISAM and its impact on India. It also includes relevant examples. A FAQ section at the end addresses some of the most common questions about the program.
Introduce yourself
Nearly 58% of India’s workforce is employed in agriculture. It is important to ensure the stability of supply and welfare of farmers by ensuring efficient agricultural marketing. The Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Marketing has been designed to eliminate inefficiencies within the agricultural marketing systems.
ISAM’s Objectives
- Enhancing market efficiency: Improved infrastructure in marketing will ensure farmers receive better prices for the produce they grow.
- Reducing Post-Harvest Losses: Modern storage and processing equipment will minimize waste.
- Promote market integration: To ensure seamless product flow, rural markets and urban ones should be linked.
- Market Information Distribution: Market information in real time to assist farmers with making informed decisions.
ISAM comprises of components
ISAM is a combination of existing schemes that introduces new initiatives in order to reach its goals. ISAM’s major components include:
1. Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure
- Financial Assistance: Develop storage and market infrastructure.
- Support for Farmers The government encourages farmers to build their own outlets for the market, like cold storage units and grading machines.
Example: This scheme helped a Maharashtra farmer’s cooperative to establish a cold-storage facility, which significantly reduced post-harvest mango losses.
2. Marketing Research and Information Network
- Information Distribution: It supports the creation of a database that contains real-time data on markets.
- Market Trends: It allows farmers to track trends and prices, which helps them sell the product at the perfect time.
Example: Tamil Nadu’s government has established an integrated network of market data under the MRIN. This allows rice farmers to take informed decisions based off real-time information.
3. Strengthening Agri-Logistics
- Transport Facilities Focus on the improvement of logistics and transportation networks to ensure rapid movement from farm to market.
- Cold Chain Development Develop cold-chain infrastructure for perishable products.
Example: Punjab has developed a chilled chain to deliver dairy products fresh and timely. Both dairy farmers as well as consumers have benefited from this development.
4. Farmer Producer Organizations
- Build Capacity: FPOs can be formed and strengthened to help small and marginal farmers.
- Market Links: FPOs can be connected to buyers, exporters, and processors.
Example: In Karnataka, an FPO has aggregated and successfully marketed organically produced products to ensure better returns for their member farmers.
5. National Agriculture Market
- Digital Market Platform Online trading platforms to link markets in the entire country.
- Transparent transactions: Reduces the need for middlemen by facilitating transparent, efficient and cost-effective transactions.
Example: An Indian farmer used the eNAM marketplace to directly sell his wheat to a Delhi-based buyer. He received a higher price than that available in Madhya Pradesh.
The Impact of the Project
- Increased farm income: The income of farmers has increased by providing a better link to the market and reducing post-harvest loss.
- Reducing Wastage The reduction in agricultural waste has been a result of improved storage and processing.
- Transparency in the Market: Through digital platforms, real-time information has made the agricultural markets more transparent.
- Empowering small farmers: FPOs have empowered marginal and small farmers, giving them the power of collective bargaining.
The Way forward and Challenges
ISAM’s achievements are impressive, yet there remain several challenges. These include the need for improved awareness of farmers and rural connectivity as well as a solution to the digital gap. Future initiatives must focus on the following:
- Expanding the reach of the program to remoter areas.
- Enhancing the farmer’s education and training program.
- Improve digital literacy in farmers so they can take advantage of platforms such as eNAM.
- Ensure smooth implementation of ISAM components and their monitoring.
You can also read our conclusion.
ISAM can revolutionize Indian agricultural marketing by integrating marketing infrastructure, logistical systems, and dissemination of market information. Addressing the gaps in the market and looking at the future, this scheme could significantly increase the incomes of farmers.
FAQ
1. What is ISAM’s primary goal?
ISAM has as its primary objectives to improve agricultural marketing efficiency, reduce losses after harvest, increase market transparency, provide farmers with better market links, and enhance the market’s transparency.
2. ISAM benefits small and marginal Farmers
ISAM is beneficial to small and marginal farmers. It supports the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations, improves market links and offers financial support for market infrastructure.
3. What is the purpose of eNAM under ISAM?
National Agriculture Markets (eNAM), an online trading platform, integrates the agricultural markets throughout the nation. It ensures transparency and higher prices for the farmers through reducing middlemen.
4. ISAM helps reduce losses post-harvest.
ISAM assists in the reduction of post-harvest loss by offering financial assistance to develop modern storage and processing units, including cold storages and graders.
5. What is an Indian state that has successfully implemented ISAM?
With financial support from ISAM in Maharashtra, an agricultural cooperative was able to establish a cold-storage facility that significantly reduced the post-harvest loss of mangoes. This resulted in better returns for the farmers.
6. What are the key components of ISAM
ISAM is made up of several major components, including Agricultural Marketing Infrastructures (AMI), Marketing Research and Information Networks(MRIN), Strengthening Agri-Logistics and Farmer Producer Organizations.
7. ISAM is committed to ensuring market transparency.
ISAM promotes transparency in the marketplace by providing farmers with real-time data via platforms such MRIN, eNAM and eNAM. They can then make better decisions and obtain higher prices for their product.
8. What are the challenges that ISAM faces, and what can be done to address them?
ISAM is faced with challenges, such as a lack of awareness by farmers, connectivity problems in rural areas, and a digital divide. This can be done by increasing the outreach of ISAM to remote regions, improving farmer training and education, and ensuring smooth monitoring.
9. Is there any financial aid that ISAM offers to farmers
ISAM helps develop market infrastructure, such as grading systems, cold storages and warehousing. It also provides farmers with financial aid to help them minimize their post-harvest losses, while maximizing the price of their products.
10. The Marketing Research and Information Network under ISAM is a great resource for farmers.
MRIN offers farmers a complete database with real-time information about the markets. They can access trends in market prices and market movements and use this data to make educated decisions on when and where they should sell their products.
