India’s First Private Agricultural Mandi at Nashik
- The Sahyadri Farmer Producer Company (FPC) (based in Nashik) is set to launch the first ever private agricultural mandi (market) for grapes in Mohadi village in Dindori taluka, Nashik, Maharashtra.
- The world-class infrastructure will be established in the next three months at a financial outlay of Rs. 25 crores.
- FPC will develop a 100-acre dedicated market space integrated with world-class infrastructure along services from banking to storage, processing, and packaging under one roof.
Note
- Sahyadri FPC became the first farmer producer organisation in India in November 2022 to get the license to set up a private Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) market.
- So far, the traditional agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) have played a major role in regulating the market for agricultural produce and have established a monopoly.
North East’s first RRIUM in Silchar, Assam
- Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), inaugurated the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM), the first of its kind institute for Unani Medicine in North East, in Silchar, Assam.
- The state-of-the-art institute will play a vital role in the promotion of Unani medicine, a traditional medicinal practice in the Ayush system.
- The complex was developed by the National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) Limited and handed over to the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), an autonomous organisation under AYUSH Ministry.
About Assam
- Capital – Dispur
- Governor – Jagdish Mukhi
- Chief Minister – Himanta Biswa Sarma
Pre-Launch of International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023
- Representatives from over 60 countries attended the pre-launch celebration of the IYM 2023.
- Objective was to spread awareness about millets and engage with other nations for IYM 2023.
- In 2018, India proposed to United Nations to declare 2023 as IYM.
About Millets
- They are collective group of small seeded annual grasses that are grown as grain crops.
- Grown on marginal land in dry areas of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions.
- India accounts for 80% of Asia’s production and 20% of global production.
- Major Millets in India: Pearl Millet (Bajra) (highest share), Jowar (Sorghum), and Finger Millet (Mandua/Ragi).
- Major producer States: Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka.
Significance of millets
- Millets are considered as superfood (foods that have a very high nutritional density).
- Do not require high-quality soil and can withstand drought.
- Short growing period.
- Ability to sequester carbon and assist in climate adaptation.
Initiatives for promotion of Millet
- National Year of Millets was celebrated in 2018.
- Millets notified as nutri-cereals and included under POSHAN Mission Abhiyan.
Meesho included on the government’s ‘ONDC’ site
- All e-commerce companies have joined the ‘Open Network for Digital Commerce’ (ONDC) platform created by the Central Government to facilitate the sale of goods at competitive prices.
- Customers who become members of ONDC can compare and buy products marketed by all e-commerce companies on the platform.
- ‘ONDC has joined the central government’s platform to provide more opportunities for the products of small traders and to make online trading a public welfare activity.
Note
- Open Network for Digital Commerce, (ONDC), is a private non-profit company established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to develop open e-commerce. It was incorporated on December 31, 2021.
