The government on Aug 1, 2017 launched a portal, e-RaKAM, to provide a platform to sell agricultural produce.
The portal is a joint initiative by state-run-auctioneer MSTC and Central Warehousing Corporation arm CRWC.
Launching the portal with Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said aim was to auction 20 lakh tonnes of pulses in the first phase through the platform.
The initial hurdles will be there as most of the farmers are illiterate and are in bad condition, Paswan said, as per a joint statement issued by MSTC and CRWC.
It added that now various crops whose price increases due to rainfall or bad weather conditions, will be managed and get the market.
He said even transport will face initial hurdles that will be sorted out over time.
E-RaKAM is a first-of-its-kind initiative that leverages technology to connect farmers of the smallest villages to the biggest markets of the world through internet and e-RaKAM centres.
E-RaKAM is developed by MSTC Limited and supported by marketing & logistics partner CRWC Limited.
E-RaKAM is a digital initiative bringing together the farmers, FPOs, PSUs, civil supplies and buyers on a single platform to ease the selling and buying process of agricultural products.
Under this initiative, e-RaKAM centres are being developed in a phased manner throughout the country to facilitate farmers for online sale of their produce.
The statement said farmers would be paid through e-Payment directly into their bank accounts.
