Knowledge Level, Challenges Perceived by Traders in the Functioning and Price Variation of Apple Marketing through e-NAM in Sant Kabir Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The e-NAM (electronic National Agriculture Market) is a pan-India, e-trading platform that networks the traditional APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural and horticultural commodities, providing a transparent price discovery mechanism to ensure profitable prices for farmers. This research explores the potential and utilization of the e-NAM portal for agricultural produce sales, focusing on apple marketing, price realization in Sant Kabir Nagar district, Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Naveen Sabji Mandi, Khalilabad, was registered via the e-NAM portal from Sant Kabir Nagar district. A total of 120 traders were chosen randomly from the registered traders list using the proportionate allocation method and data were collected with pre-structured survey schedule. In this study Guttman scale was used to assess traders awareness, it was observed that traders had lack information about e-NAM and its process. Garrett ranking technique was used to assess constraints which were faced by trader’s i.e. Dissatisfaction with APMC's grading system, complexity of e-NAM trading compared to open auctions, traders lacked sufficient training,  struggled to purchase produce without manual price inspection, last-minute bidding, time-consuming auctions, and limited bidding time. Apple market through e-NAM were able to fetch higher price as compared to the without e-NAM market. Implementing targeted awareness campaigns to educate farmers and traders about the advantages of utilizing e-NAM.