19

Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, along with Chaudhary Birender Singh, Minister of Steel, Government of India, launched e-RaKAM (Rashtriya Kisan Agri Mandi), an exclusive e-platform for agri produce. e-RaKAM is developed by MSTC Limited and supported by marketing and logistics partner CRWC Limited. Paswan said, “I appreciate e-RaKAM portal executed by MSTC and CRWC to handle its marketing and logistics. I personally feel that we should start with auctioning of pulses as we have them in abundance. 20 lakh tonnes of pulses were lying idle at warehouse and it still has no buyers. e-RaKAM will help us and farmers hugely. Initial hurdles will be there as most of ourfarmers are illiterate and are in bad condition. However every new thing comes with its own difficulties that will be managed with time. This way various crops whose price increases due to rainfall or bad weather conditions will be managed and will get themarket. Even transport condition will also have initial hurdles that will be sorted with time.” e-RaKAM is a dedicated portal that will provide a platform where agri-business transactions will be made through Forward Auction, e-booking, price-quantity e-auction and e-procurement with online payment system and has logistic support by CRWC. The aim is to promote digital India drive in rural sectors so as to increase the farmer’s income.