The Ministry of Fisheries signed a memorandum of understanding with e-commerce company Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on February 19, 2024 to bring fishermen and consumers together on one marketing platform to sell a variety of fish. I made it. Although belated, this move is necessary for the development of India's fisheries sector.
In a recently published report, NCAER pointed out clear deficiencies in digital adoption in the fisheries sector. The first survey (conducted in 2022) found that only about 12% of fishermen reported that their marketing activities were linked to the web-based FMPIS (Fish Market and Price Information System). Lack of access to FMPIS can have negative effects in terms of reduced transparency, efficiency and profitability.
web-based platform
FMPIS is a web-based platform that provides real-time fish prices, availability, and other market data to stakeholders. This can reduce the information asymmetry that exists between different market participants. In some ways, digital penetration helps ensure consumers have access to cheap, high-quality fish.
The interim budget for 2024-25 allotted over Rs 2.5 billion for the Ministry of Fisheries and rightly placed emphasis on building digital public infrastructure to support fisherfolk. Production and exports of marine fisheries, both inland and farmed, have doubled in the past decade. The flagship Pradhan Mantri Mastya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has been strengthened to boost aquaculture productivity from the existing 3 tonnes per hectare to 5 tonnes per hectare, doubling export value to ₱1 trillion. , creating employment opportunities for approximately 5.5 million people.
All this will help foster a Blue Economy 2.0, with a focus on promoting adaptation and recovery, along with climate-resilient activities to develop integrated, multi-sectoral aquaculture. Integration of technology through the marketing value chain could play an important role in making the types of fish available for consumption. E-commerce platforms and online marketplaces have the potential to connect farmers and buyers directly. In this regard, the fisheries sector can leverage the vast potential of AI applications to reduce waste by identifying areas of demand and to offer competitive options to consumers looking for protein sources. It may be possible to increase efficiency. However, the challenge of providing affordable and reliable technology to small and medium-sized fishers is difficult, and with the cooperation of governments, research institutes, and private organizations, investment, training, and awareness-raising are needed in an enabling atmosphere. It is necessary to make substantial interventions in the form of
Seafood and aquatic products move through marketing chains through various channels, whether for domestic consumption or export. The length of a marketing channel depends on the size of the market, the nature of the product, and consumer-level demand patterns.
The market for marine fish is mediated by auctioneers, intermediaries, wholesalers, and retailers. Fishermen sell their catch through auctioneers, usually at landing centers, without any added value. Auctioneers conduct auctions and sell fish to local dealers/fish collectors, who then auction off the fish to wholesalers. Wholesalers sell the fish to retailers after re-icing, salting, cleaning, and sizing. Retailers add further value before selling to consumers. For export, the fish sales channel involves traders or agents and fish processing units.
NCAER research suggests that FMPIS in fisheries can improve transparency, efficiency and competitiveness, leading to lower costs and prices for producers and consumers. Real-time market data helps fishers make informed decisions, reduce vulnerability to exploitation, and facilitate policy-making towards sustainable, efficient and transparent markets. The report projects the market to reach 22 million tonnes by 2026-27.
The authors are affiliated with NCAER.views are personal
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