Article:
India’s Union Commerce and Industry Minister recently inaugurated an innovative electronic platform known as e-SANTA. This unique digital initiative aims to bridge the gap between aqua farmers and buyers, establishing a direct line of connection that will sidestep the need for middlemen and enhance market transparency.
Understanding e-SANTA
e-SANTA is an acronym for “Electronic Solution for Augmenting NaCSA farmers’ Trade in Aquaculture.” It was designed to equip farmers with an alternative marketing tool, allowing them to list their produce and set their prices freely. Conversely, buyers are also empowered to list their particular requirements, thereby enabling them to select products that match specific criteria such as size, location, and harvest dates.
Remarkably, this user-friendly platform is multilingual, catering to local populations by providing accessibility in various languages. e-SANTA’s design is rooted in inclusivity; it aims to make modern digital tools accessible to all, regardless of linguistic background.
The Potential Impact of e-SANTA
e-SANTA was developed with the goal of enhancing income, lifestyle, self-reliance, and quality levels for aqua farmers. It achieves these improvements through the following means:
– Reducing Risk: By eliminating intermediaries, farmers can negotiate prices directly with buyers, thereby reducing potential financial exploitation.
– Increased Awareness of Products & Markets: The platform facilitates information exchange about products and current market trends, fostering informed decision-making.
– Income Growth: Direct access to buyers without intermediary commissions presents the opportunity for increased income.
– Shielding Against Wrong Practice: An inclusive, transparent platform mitigates opportunities for malpractice.
– Simplifying Processes: The platform streamlines trade transactions, making them cashless, contactless, and paperless.
Moreover, e-SANTA may serve as a collective advertising tool, showcasing the array of products fishermen and fish producing organisations are harvesting.
e-SANTA as a Future Auction Platform
This platform is not only designed for domestic use, but also has the potential to reach a global audience. It can inform international buyers about product availability and could potentially evolve into an auction platform in the future.
National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA)
e-SANTA is strongly linked with the National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA), an extension arm of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.
NaCSA’s main objective is to uplift small and marginal farmers by organizing them into clusters and promoting Best Management Practices in shrimp culture. The benefits of this cluster approach include a significant reduction in production costs and the organization of farm operations, quality seed procurement, simultaneous stocking, water exchange, and specific harvesting regimes. NaCSA’s mission aligns with that of e-SANTA; both aim to empower the nation’s aquaculture sector and enhance the livelihoods of those within it.
(Source: PIB)
