Piyush Goyal Launches ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ to Empower Agriculture Sector Towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th March. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Commerce and Industry, and Textiles, Piyush Goyal, has outlined the pivotal role of the agriculture sector in propelling India towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ (Digital Gateway) by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) in New Delhi, Shri Goyal emphasized the significance of leveraging technology to streamline farmers’ warehousing logistics and ensure fair pricing for their produce.

The newly launched ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ aims to mitigate distress sales by farmers by offering simplified digital processes for storage at registered WDRA warehouses. Shri Goyal announced a reduction in security deposit charges from 3% to 1% at WDRA registered warehouses, with a focus on benefiting small-scale farmers and enhancing their income.

Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Shri Goyal underscored its potential to transform farming into an attractive venture. The ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ platform facilitates storage for up to six months at 7% interest per annum, providing farmers with greater flexibility and financial security.

The Minister emphasized the need for mandatory registration of warehouses utilized by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under WDRA, advocating for infrastructure readiness in state warehouses. He set a target of registering 1 lakh warehouses on the portal, aiming to expand access to modern storage facilities for farmers across the nation.

Shri Goyal commended the interconnected market facilitated by initiatives like ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ and e-NAM, enabling farmers to leverage technology beyond Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement. He highlighted a 2.5-fold increase in government procurement through MSPs over the last decade, reflecting the government’s commitment to supporting agricultural livelihoods.

Addressing the launch of the world’s largest cooperative food grain storage scheme, the Minister urged WDRA to propose free registration for all cooperative sector godowns. This initiative aims to incentivize farmers to utilize WDRA facilities, ensuring fair pricing and bolstering agricultural prosperity.