• Time: 01:04 PM

India is an agriculture-based nation, and farmers are the fundamental foundation of the country’s economy, food security, rural employment, and social stability. More than approximately 55% of the country’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture and agriculture-based activities. A farmer is not merely a person engaged in food production but is one of the most important pillars of nation-building. For years, farmers across the country have faced numerous challenges, including the availability of agricultural inputs, fair pricing, access to quality products, accessibility to government schemes, lack of digital services, delays in subsidies, and the intermediary system. The lack of a modern and organized distribution system in rural areas has been a major obstacle to the economic progress of farmers. To address these challenges and provide farmers with respectful, modern, transparent, and technologically enabled facilities, eAnnadata Welfare and Development of India Limited has initiated the “eAnnadata Canteen Store Scheme”, based on the Army Canteen model. This scheme is India’s first farmer-based canteen system, which is an integrated model combining the Army Canteen model, Digital Quick Commerce model, Warehouse system, Farmer Service Centre model, and a DBT-based transparent subsidy system. Under this scheme, farmers are provided with essential agricultural and household-use products, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, seeds, livestock-related materials, benefits of government and non-government schemes, digital services, and other facilities in their nearby areas. This scheme is being operated with the objective of the economic and social upliftment of farmers and is being brought to the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Fertilizers, Ministry of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Cooperation, and other concerned departments of the Government of India. The objective of this scheme is not merely to conduct business activities but to provide farmers.