Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the government aims to ensure that within the next two years, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) procure every grain of pulses directly from farmers, eliminating middlemen and ensuring payments reach farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours.
Speaking at the launch of NAFED’s e-auction portal, NAFEX.in, in New Delhi, Shah said the initiative would strengthen the government's efforts to make India self-reliant in pulses while ensuring farmers receive fair and remunerative prices for their produce.
The event was attended by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar, Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani, NAFED Chairman Jethabhai Ahir and other dignitaries.
Shah said NAFED had launched four major initiatives, NAFEX.in, DRISHTI, ERP and NAFED Kalyan, aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency and farmer outreach. He noted that NAFED, which was facing severe financial difficulties a decade ago, has emerged as a strong and profitable institution serving over 74 lakh farmers across the country.
According to Shah, NAFED currently has a turnover of Rs 30,000 crore and earns a profit of about Rs 500 crore. He said the organisation’s financial position has improved significantly due to government support, transparency measures and diversification into new business areas.
Highlighting the government's focus on pulses, Shah said the infrastructure required for direct procurement of pulses, maize and other crops has been developed over the last three years. The next step is to expand this network to the grassroots level so that farmers can directly sell their produce to NAFED and NCCF without relying on intermediaries.
“The entire chain of middlemen will be removed and the profits that rightfully belong to farmers will reach them,” Shah said, adding that direct procurement would encourage farmers to expand pulses cultivation and contribute to the country's self-sufficiency in the sector.
The minister also pointed to NAFED’s growing role beyond procurement, including activities in organic farming, seed production, retail business, bio-fertilizer manufacturing, food security and international trade. He expressed confidence that NAFED’s turnover would increase from Rs 30,000 crore to over Rs 50,000 crore in the next two years.
In another significant announcement, Shah said NAFED would allocate 1% of its profits towards scholarships and career development support for children from farming families, helping them pursue higher education and professional opportunities.