The government has proposed setting up a Kisan Mandi (farmers market) by September in Delhi where consortium of growers and producers can sell their produce directly to consumers and wholesalers. This has been possible after government changed the law that gives traders and middlemen a monopoly.
The mandi, a first of its kind experiment in the national capital, will have approximately 25,000 square feet of covered area for stalls and warehousing and will also have a transit cold storage space. Around 30 farmer producer companies are expected to participate in the first year of operation.
The market will be operated under the aegis of the Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC). Farmers and farmer producer organizations (FPOs) will be able meet part of Delhi’s demand of 15,000 tonnes of vegetables a day after the Delhi Agriculture Produce Market (APMC) Act is amended.