Thousands of farmers' collectives across various states are now benefitting from the opportunity to sell a diverse range of agricultural products on the government's e-commerce platform, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). Since the inclusion of farmers' producer organisations (FPOs) on the ONDC platform in April 2023, approximately 4,000 such bodies have successfully marketed 3,100 varieties of value-added agricultural products.
How Does ONDC Help?
The ONDC plays a crucial role in supporting and training FPOs, offering free registration and assistance in developing and digitising product catalogues. Additionally, the platform aids in generating shipping labels, identifying delivery partners, and facilitating digital payments. This comprehensive support empowers FPOs to leverage the digital marketplace efficiently for marketing their products.
With a network encompassing over 30 digital applications, including PayTM, Mystore, Maginpin, and Delhivery, ONDC provides a robust ecosystem for intercity logistics, connecting buyers and sellers, and various other services.
The collaboration between ONDC and the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), an entity under the agriculture ministry, aims to address challenges faced by FPOs in accessing markets nationwide.
What is ONDC?
Launched in April 2022 as a section 8 company by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, ONDC has emerged as a pivotal platform for agricultural commerce. The recent partnership with Meta underscores the platform's commitment to upskilling small businesses, including FPOs, highlighting the convergence of technology and agriculture.
For FPOs, the digital network provided by ONDC offers direct access to digital marketing, online payment systems, and facilitates both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions. This not only enhances the market reach for FPOs but also encourages local value addition, contributing to the growth of logistics in rural areas.
