Indian Fisheries to Dive into Digital Commerce with Department of Fisheries and ONDC Collaboration

New Delhi:  In a significant move to empower India’s fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries (GoI) is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The MoU signing ceremony, scheduled for February 19, 2024, at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, will be attended by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala, and Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr. L Murugan.

The collaboration aims to enhance direct access to consumers or markets for fishermen, leveraging the potential of digital commerce in the Indian fisheries sector. The event will witness the presence of key officials, including Secretary Department of Fisheries, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Managing Director of ONDC, Shri T. Koshy, and around 50 Fish Farmers Producers Organizations (FFPOs).

This marks the first-time collaboration between the Department of Fisheries and ONDC, promising to provide a digital platform for various stakeholders in the fisheries sector. The initiative aims to facilitate wider market access, enabling fisherfolks, fish farmers, producers’ organizations, entrepreneurs, self-help groups (SHGs), fishermen cooperatives, and other stakeholders to expand their reach and connect with potential customers.

The adoption of digital solutions is expected to bring numerous benefits to the fisheries industry, including enhanced trust, reduced transaction costs, increased market reach, improved transparency, heightened competitiveness, innovation, and employment generation. By leveraging ONDC’s platform, the fisheries sector aims to achieve efficient supply chain management, develop robust value chains, and enhance overall market access.

The collaboration will not only foster technological solutions but also focus on capacity building and awareness through educational workshops for MSMEs, start-ups, SHGs, small & marginal fishermen, FFPOs, and other market participants in the fisheries sector.

ONDC, an initiative by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, promotes open networks for the exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks. Presently, it has recorded over 6.3 million transactions across 600+ cities, with the participation of 3000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and 400 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

As India’s fisheries sector continues to evolve, this collaboration emphasizes the government’s commitment to transformative initiatives, bringing economic prosperity to stakeholders across the fishers’ value chain. The partnership with ONDC is expected to provide a direct channel between producers and consumers, reducing reliance on intermediaries and contributing to higher profits for fishers and lower prices for consumers.

The MoU signing ceremony is a pivotal step towards revolutionizing the fisheries sector, aligning with the government’s broader vision for a robust and technologically advanced industry.