“The e-Mandi Scheme, under eNAM, transforms Indian agriculture by connecting farmers to digital markets, ensuring better prices and transparency. With over 1.77 crore farmers and 1,473 mandis integrated, it eliminates middlemen, enhances market access, and supports income growth. Recent updates highlight expanded commodity trading and technological advancements, empowering farmers in states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.”
How e-Mandi is Transforming Indian Agriculture
The e-Mandi Scheme, a cornerstone of the National Agriculture Market (eNAM) launched in 2016, is reshaping India’s agricultural landscape by digitizing traditional mandis. As of 2025, eNAM has integrated 1,473 mandis across 23 states and 4 Union Territories, with over 1.77 crore farmers and 2.53 lakh traders registered. This digital platform enables farmers to sell their produce online, connecting them directly to buyers nationwide, bypassing intermediaries who often dictate unfair prices.
Farmers can register with their local mandi, upload produce details, and receive bids through a transparent, competitive auction system. For instance, a farmer in Rajasthan can now sell onions to a buyer in Assam, with payments credited directly to their bank accounts via secure gateways. This eliminates delays and exploitation common in traditional mandis, where farmers often face issues like delayed payments and price manipulation by middlemen. In Madhya Pradesh, a leading state in e-Mandi adoption, over 260 mandis are equipped with real-time assaying labs, ensuring standardized quality checks for crops like wheat and pulses.
Recent updates show significant progress. In 2025, Tamil Nadu integrated 56 new mandis, and Rajasthan added 7, bringing the total to 1,473. The platform now supports over 200 commodities, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, spices, and vegetables, with plans to expand further based on regional demand. The e-Mandi system also facilitates cross-state trade, with unified licenses allowing traders from one state to participate in another’s mandis. For example, traders with a unified license can now bid for copra, groundnut, and turmeric in Tamil Nadu’s e-NAM mandis.
The Digital Agriculture Mission, approved in 2024 with a Rs 2,817 crore outlay, complements e-Mandi by enhancing digital infrastructure. Its Agri Stack and Krishi Decision Support System provide farmers with real-time data on prices, weather, and farming techniques, empowering informed decision-making. BharatNet, India’s rural broadband initiative, further supports this by connecting over 250,000 Gram Panchayats, enabling farmers to access market trends and sell produce efficiently.
Farmers like Devraj from Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, exemplify the scheme’s impact. “Earlier, we were at the mercy of local traders. Now I sell mustard to a buyer in Gujarat from my village mandi,” he says. This transparency has curbed price-fixing and ensured fairer returns. The scheme also promotes financial inclusion, with over Rs 3.24 lakh crore disbursed to 11 crore farmers under PM-KISAN via Direct Benefit Transfer, allowing reinvestment in farming.
However, challenges remain. Small and marginal farmers, who dominate India’s agricultural landscape with 89.4% owning less than two hectares, often lack the tech-savviness or resources to fully leverage e-Mandi. High initial costs for digital infrastructure and logistical issues like storage and transportation also pose hurdles. To address this, e-kiosks and Common Service Centres (CSCs) assist farmers in listing produce, while Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) aggregate smallholder produce for better market access.
The government is also investing in mandi infrastructure. In Jalandhar, Rs 11.47 crore worth of development projects are underway, and states like Rajasthan and Gujarat are promoting unrestricted trading outside mandis to complement e-NAM. These efforts align with the broader goal of creating a sustainable, market-linked income model for farmers, moving beyond subsidies and loan waivers.
Disclaimer: This article is based on recent news, government reports, and web sources. Data and figures are sourced from credible platforms like pib.gov.in, drishtiias.com, and enam.gov.in. Readers are advised to verify details with official government portals for the latest updates.