The Department of Fisheries has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to promote digital marketing of fish and other aquatic produce, aiming to boost the earnings of small fishermen. The MoU was signed in the presence of the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, and Minister of State for Fisheries L. Murugan. The collaboration will provide a digital platform for fisherfolks, fish farmers, producers organization, entrepreneurs, SHGs, fishermen cooperatives, and other stakeholders in the fisheries sector to access wider markets.
The e-market platform will enable customers to directly buy fish from the farmers online, digitize the fishery industry, and better inform consumers on the types of aquatic produce available. Additionally, the collaboration between the Department of Fisheries and ONDC will facilitate implementation of technology-driven solutions, improve efficiency, collectivization and competitiveness of small-scale producers and marketers within the fisheries sector.
ONDC, a platform aiming to promote open networks for exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks, has recorded over 6.3 million transactions in the month of November’23 across 600+ cities and has more than 3000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) registered to be part of its network.
This initiative not only provides a direct channel between producers and consumers but also aims to reduce reliance on intermediaries, leading to higher profits for fishers and lower prices for consumers. The collaboration also aims to facilitate capacity building and raise awareness through educational workshops for MSMEs, start-ups, SHGs, small & marginal fishermen, FFPOs, fishers, and market participants in the fisheries sector.
In the long term, the ONDC network is expected to facilitate seamless integration for harnessing the benefits of collectivization between producers, processors, and distributors within the fisheries sector, enabling efficient supply chain management, value chains, and market access. Overall, the collaboration is expected to bring about a significant positive impact on the fisheries sector, providing a digital platform for fisherfolks and small-scale producers to access wider markets, expand their customer base, and improve their overall competitiveness in the industry.
