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Context

• Introduction of 'e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi' (Digital Gateway) by Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA)

Details

• ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ initiative with the help of technology will ease the farmers’ warehousing logistics and aid the farmers in receiving fair prices for their produce.
• The security deposit charges at WDRA registered warehouses will soon be reduced to encourage more farmers, especially small farmers, to utilize the warehouses and enhance their income.
• The warehouses under WDRA are well monitored, highly rated and are equipped with infrastructure that will protect the farm produce and lead to farmers’ welfare. There is need for mandatory registration of warehouses utilised by Food Corporation of India (FCI) across the states under WDRA and preparation of a roadmap for state warehouses to be infrastructure-ready.
• e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ platform with its simplified digital process can ease the procedure of farmers' storage at any registered WDRA warehouse for a period of 6 months at 7% interest per annum.
• The WDRA initiative of providing an online platform for warehouse registration that has seen significant increase year-on-year and set a target of 1 lakh warehouses to be registered on the portal. He noted that last year 1500 warehouses were registered.

Other facts

• ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ and e-NAM, farmers will be able to utilise the technology of an interconnected market which benefits them above and beyond selling their produce to the Government at Minimum Support Price (MSP). The Government’s procurement through MSPs has increased 2.5 times over the last decade.
• During the launch of the world's largest cooperative food grain storage scheme the Government urged WDRA to plan a proposal to provide free registration of all the godowns under the cooperative sector.
• The initiative to aid cooperative sector godowns will further boost farmers to stock their produce in WDRA facilities leading them to get fair price on selling their harvest.

Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA)

Constitution and Establishment:

• Established on 26.10.2010 under the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007
• Government of India Gazette Notification dated 26th October 2010

Objectives and Functions:

• Exercise powers and perform functions under the Act, Rules, and Regulations
• Development and regulation of warehouses
• Promote negotiability of warehouse receipts
• Promote orderly growth of the warehousing business in India

Statutory Authority:

• WDRA is a Statutory Authority under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India

Headquarters:

• Headquarters located in New Delhi

Composition:

• Consists of a Chairperson and two Members appointed by the Central Government

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Which initiative aims to ease farmers' warehousing logistics, ensure fair prices for their produce, and mandate the registration of warehouses used by the Food Corporation of India (FCI)? A) e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi B) Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) C) Food Corporation of India (FCI) D) Farmers' Warehousing Logistics Initiative (FWLI) Correct Answer: A) e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi