The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has commenced fish sales, creating a new marketplace for fish farmers to trade their products. Fish farmers have been rapidly registering on ONDC and online sales have picked up. ONDC eases sale and purchase by acting as a marketplace for farmers where they can directly sell to consumers. As a result, consumers have access to fresh produce. ONDC was launched with the support of the central fisheries ministry. The initiative was started last year in February by the Union Minister of Fisheries.
Fish farmers of over 10 states register
According to experts, around 35 Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have already joined the ONDC network. These FPOs are from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
The fisheries department aims to provide a digital platform for fish farmers through ONDC. It also aims to raise awareness among traditional fishermen, fish farmer producer organizations, and businesses in the fisheries sector about buying and selling their products through an e-marketplace.
ONDC is a unique e-marketing platform that will play a significant role in the fisheries sector by connecting fishermen, fish farmers, FPOs, self-help groups, and other fishery cooperative societies.