Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has called upon NAFED and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) to eliminate middlemen from agricultural procurement and ensure that farmers receive payments directly in their bank accounts within 48 hours of sale.
The appeal came while launching four major digital and farmer-centric initiatives of NAFED-e-auction platform NAFEX.in, DRISHTI inventory management system, Saksham ERP platform and the NAFED Kalyan scholarship scheme. The initiatives are aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency and technology-driven governance in the cooperative sector.
Shah said NAFED and NCCF should work towards procuring every grain of pulses and oilseeds directly from farmers, removing intermediaries and ensuring that the full benefit of procurement reaches cultivators. He emphasized that farmers’ hard-earned income should be credited directly to their bank accounts within 48 hours through a transparent digital system.
The Minister described technology as a key enabler of the government’s vision of “Prosperity through Cooperation,” noting that digital platforms can reduce leakages, improve market access and strengthen trust between farmers and cooperative institutions. The reforms are expected to create a more efficient procurement ecosystem while empowering millions of farmers across the country.