- Amit Shah launched NAFED’s e-auction portal NAFEX.in in New Delhi.
- NAFED scholarship scheme introduced for farmers’ children.
- Government aims for direct procurement of all pulses through NAFED and NCCF within two years.
- Shah said farmers will receive payments directly in their bank accounts within 48 hours.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd June: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Tuesday launched NAFED’s e-auction portal NAFEX.in and unveiled several farmer-centric initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, boosting procurement and strengthening the cooperative sector.
Addressing a programme in the national capital, Shah said NAFEX.in, along with the DRISHTI portal, ERP system and NAFED Kalyan scheme, would modernise agricultural marketing and improve services for farmers.
He said NAFED, which was facing severe financial difficulties in 2014, is now serving more than 74 lakh farmers with a turnover of ₹30,000 crore and profits of around ₹500 crore under the Modi government.
Highlighting the government’s plan to strengthen pulse procurement, Shah said NAFED and NCCF aim to purchase every grain of pulses directly from farmers within the next two years. He added that the move would eliminate middlemen and ensure payments are credited directly to farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours.
The Home Minister said the government has already created infrastructure for direct procurement of pulses, maize and other crops and is now working to expand it to the grassroots level.
Shah also launched the NAFED scholarship scheme, under which one per cent of the organisation’s profits will be earmarked for higher education and career development of farmers’ children.
Earlier, Shah paid tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his Balidan Diwas, describing him as a visionary leader who made the supreme sacrifice for the unity and integrity of the nation.
