With a view to provide to electronic connectivity to all the important wholesale markets in the country, this Department is implementing a Marketing Information Network Scheme viz. ‘AGMARKNET’. The aim of the scheme is to collect and disseminate (price and market related) information in respect of agricultural commodities.  The scheme was launched in the year 2000-01 and as on date 1269 markets from all over the country have been linked to a central portal.  It is planned to connect 2700 important markets to the AGMARKNET Portal by March 2007.  

Price related information:           Information on price of agricultural commodities is collected by Auction Officers in the mandi through the process of auction that takes place from early in the morning and goes up to lunchtime.   The data is usually sent by e-mail from the mandi in the afternoon indicating the day’s minimum price of the commodity, the maximum price and the modal price, i.e. the price at which the maximum sales have taken place.  The quantity of arrivals is also reported.  E-mail from all the markets are compiled in the DMI/NIC Headquarter and after verification uploaded on the portal. Information on the portal is in public domain and can be accessed freely.  As on date, price information in respect of more than 300 commodities and 2000 varieties are reported on the Site. 

Market related information:          In addition to price, several other markets related information is provided on the portal.  These relate to accepted standards of grades, labeling, sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements, physical infrastructure of storage and warehousing, marketing laws, fees payable etc.  Efforts are on to prepare a national atlas of agricultural markets on a GIS Platform that would indicate the availability of entire marketing infrastructure in the country including storages, cold storages, markets and related infrastructure.  Similarly commodity profiles indicating the post harvest requirements of important commodities in terms of quality, packing, standards etc. are being loaded on to the portal.  Commodities already covered include Rice, Bengal gram, Red gram and mustard rapeseed. 

Links: The portal has links with several Ministries and Central Institutions that are directly involved in implementing agriculture related programmes.  The portal is also linked online with commodity exchanges, providing future prices in respect of cereals, oilseeds, etc. International price trends of agricultural commodities available on FAO website can also be acceded through the portal.  The portal is constantly enriched by dissemination of information in regional languages. 

Users:  Price and other data reflected on the portal is being made use of by several agencies including Banks, Commodity Exchanges, Newspapers, Market Committees, Farmers’ Organizations etc.  Price information on the portal has credibility since it is generated by the Government system and acts as a reference point.   

Technical Support: Technical support to the site is provided by a team of senior officers at the NIC Headquarters at Delhi, State coordinator at the NIC Regional Office and the NIC District Centers located in all districts of the country.  Coordination with the State Governments is achieved through the State Marketing Boards under whose administrative control the State regulated markets function.  

Financial Outlay:          This Department has incurred an expenditure of about Rs.25 crores on the implementation of the Scheme.  Outlay for the scheme during 10^th Plan is Rs.35 crores.