New Delhi: The Centre has asked states to allow bulk buyers, processors and big retailers for next three months to directly buy agri-produce from farmers, FPOs and cooperatives, in a bid to decongest mandis and ensure enough supply to consumption region amid COVID-19 lockdown.
The state governments have also been asked to notify warehouses registered by Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) as deemed markets to facilitate online trading through electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM), Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal said in a communication to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories.
States have been asked to adopt these two emergent measures for at least three months, he added.
"As harvest season has started, there is immediate need to facilitate the process of direct marketing of all kinds by farmers, FPOs and cooperatives," Agarwal said.
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In the present challenging time due to COVID-19, there is a need to allow free direct marketing outside the mandis as this shall not only decongest mandis but also facilitate the farmers in selling their produce near to farm gate at remunerative prices, he said.