AMIS launched on June 24

Thinley Namgay 

The agriculture ministry in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) launched the online Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) on June 24 in Thimphu.  

Through AMIS, people could understand the market prices of 37 varieties of agriculture, dairy and forest produce from the 23 markets around the country by accessing through the website or mobile app.  

The initiative would benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and farmers by enhancing price information for agricultural commodities and empowering them to get better market prices. AMIS aims to provide a strategic source of information for the ministry to monitor and manage the unprecedented hike in prices of various food products which impacts consumers and food security.

AMIS online platform was developed with the financial support from the EU under the framework of EU-Bhutan Trade Support Project, and with the technical expertise of ITC. 

Agriculture minister Yeshey Penjor graced the launching ceremony. EU’s Ambassador to Bhutan and India, Ugo Astuto, and ITC’s Director of Country Programmes, Ashish Shah, also attended the ceremony through a virtual platform.  

Lyonpo Yeshey Penjor said that Bhutan was working to divert the supply-driven market to a demand-driven market and the AMIS was crucial and timely. “The information on the system is uploaded on a weekly basis, and it is linked to the Food Corporation of Bhutan’s auction system and will directly pull the auction data to give holistic price information to the farmers in the field.”

Ugo Astuto said that the AMIS would support Bhutan’s efforts to boost domestic and international trade while contributing to improved sustainability of rural incomes. “Connecting the agricultural ecosystem across the country will ensure not only unified market information for agricultural products but also facilitate inclusive growth, in line with our overall support to Bhutan in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.” 

 The agriculture and marketing services department will hereafter carry out an awareness programme on the usage of the AMIS.

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