The Chief Minister's Office of Rajasthan announced on Thursday, 18 June 2026 that Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has approved development works worth Rs 18 crore 86 lakh to strengthen the physical infrastructure of various Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across the state.

Context

The official post stated: 'मुख्यमंत्री श्री भजनलाल शर्मा ने, राज्य की विभिन्न कृषि उपज मण्डी समितियों के आधारभूत ढाँचे को सुदृढ़ बनाने के लिए, 18 करोड़ 86 लाख रुपये की लागत के, विभिन्न विकास कार्यों के प्रस्ताव को, स्वीकृति प्रदान की है।' ('Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has approved a proposal for various development works costing Rs 18 crore 86 lakh to strengthen the basic infrastructure of various agricultural produce market committees of the state.')

The approved works cover mandi yard construction, construction of approach roads, and repair of damaged roads at the identified mandi sites. These are foundational physical upgrades aimed at making it easier for farmers to bring their produce to market.

Policy Backdrop

APMCs are statutory bodies under Rajasthan's agricultural marketing department, responsible for regulating trade, collecting market fees, and maintaining mandi infrastructure. The six mandis covered under this approval are: Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti Sojat City (Pali), Palsana and Shrimadhopur (Sikar), Anaj Mandi (Bikaner), Merta City (Nagaur), and Dudu (Jaipur).

Rajasthan has periodically directed budgetary resources toward physical APMC upgrades to reduce post-harvest losses and raise market arrivals. This approval continues that focus on basic infrastructure rather than regulatory or digital reforms alone. The central government's e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform, launched in 2016, has also sought to integrate physical mandis like these into a unified digital marketplace for better price discovery.

Stakeholders and Impact

The CMO stated that the approval will 'कृषि विपणन गतिविधियों को प्रोत्साहन मिलेगा' — ('boost agricultural marketing activities'). Specifically, it is expected to increase the arrival of crops at mandis, make it easier for farmers to sell their produce, and raise mandi revenue.

The primary beneficiaries are farmers in the catchment areas of these six mandis spread across Pali, Sikar, Bikaner, Nagaur, and Jaipur districts. Mandi traders and APMC revenue staff are also set to benefit from improved yard and road facilities. Similar state-level spending on APMC physical infrastructure has been observed in other BJP-governed states following the 2023 assembly elections.

What's Next

The tendering and execution process for these works will be the immediate next step, with physical progress across the six mandi sites to be watched closely. Any follow-up allocations for remaining mandis across Rajasthan in the next state budget will indicate whether this approval is part of a wider, phased infrastructure drive. The government's ability to translate sanctioned funds into completed yards and roads on schedule will be the key measure of impact for the farming communities involved.