Bridging Market Gaps in the Himalayas: The Case of eNAM and Apple Markets in Uttarakhand

Abstract ID: 3.12095
|Review Result Accepted as Talk
|Abstract not registered Abstract not registered
| TBA
|Presentation Location TBA
Sah, T. (1)
(1) Assistant Professor, Vidyashilp University, 560064 Bengaluru, IN
How to cite: Sah, T.: Bridging Market Gaps in the Himalayas: The Case of eNAM and Apple Markets in Uttarakhand, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 - 18 2025, #IMC25-3.12095, 2025.
Categories: Agriculture
Keywords: Agricultural Prices, Agricultural Markets, Climate Change, ICTs
Categories: Agriculture
Keywords: Agricultural Prices, Agricultural Markets, Climate Change, ICTs
Abstract

Apple markets in Uttarakhand face significant challenges due to geographical isolation, weak infrastructure, and inefficiencies in price discovery. These issues are further exacerbated by the growing impact of climate change, which disrupts production through erratic weather patterns, unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and shifting agricultural viability. The electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM), introduced in 2016, aims to integrate agricultural markets and improve price transparency, offering a potential mechanism for enhancing climate resilience in farming communities. Using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework, this study examines the integration of twelve apple markets across Uttarakhand. The results indicate that markets in the plains are better integrated, while hill markets, particularly those not linked to eNAM, suffer from weak price transmission and poor price discovery. The study highlights that geographical constraints and digital exclusion limit the ability of farmers in hill regions to access competitive markets, making them more vulnerable to climate-induced risks. Strengthening eNAM coverage and improving infrastructure in these regions could enhance price stability and provide farmers with better adaptive capacity against climate uncertainties.