Flipkart and Karnataka State Mango Department and Marketing Corporation, Government of Karnataka (Mango Board) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, enabling mango farmers to sell their fresh produce online through the Flipkart platform. This mango season consumers will have access to various varieties of mangoes across the districts of Bengaluru Urban, Kolar, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad and Belgaum.
Consumers can place orders on Flipkart’s platform for several varieties of mangoes including Alphonso, Badami, Apoos, Banganpalli, Kesar, Neelam, Himam Pasand, Sendur and Mallika, in batches of 3kgs.
Flipkart will provide its marketplace platform to the Mango Board farmer producer organisations/ sellers, growers and traders by enrolling them on the platform. The company will further provide training and capacity building of how to use the App and other user interfaces. Along with the Mango Board, Indian Post Offices will function as the last mile delivery operations partners during this season.
Rajneesh Kumar, chief corporate affairs officer, Flipkart Group, said, “These are challenging times for farmers and small business owners across the country, and we are pleased to bring together ecosystem partnerships which benefit larger sections of society. By coming together with the Mango Board, Government of Karnataka and the Indian Post Office, we are extending our capabilities to support the farmer community and also have consumers enjoy the mango season – something which they look forward to each year. These partnerships bring out the true potential of e-commerce and we are glad to have played a key role in uplifting the community and helping in increasing farmer’s income.”
Rajendra Kataria, IAS, secretary, Government Horticulture Department and chairman, Karnataka State Mango Department and Marketing Cooperation, Government of Karnataka, said, “The State Mango Board offers significant capabilities and a distinctive business model by acting as a nodal agency bringing Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO’s) for Mango Growers/ Traders, thereby alleviating the conditions and creating a viable market for their produce. Both Flipkart and the Karnataka State Mango Board have actively collaborated to achieve significant business solutions to introduce the Farmers to a potential market through e-commerce.”
Over the last few months, Flipkart has partnered with various FMCG and retail companies to bring a wider range of essentials on its platform. With this partnership, the company forays into the Farmer Producer Organisation’s community further contributing to supporting the livelihoods of mango growers and the farmer community.
