Online Marketplace Aqua Bazar

Q. Why is this in News?

A. Recently, the Union Minister for Fisheries launched the Online Market Place feature, Aqua Bazar, in the MatsyaSetu mobile app during the ninth general body meeting of the National Fisheries Development Board.

Q. What is Matsya Setu App?

A. 

• About:
  • The app was developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar, with the funding support of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Features:
  • Through this platform, any registered vendor can list their input materials.
  • The listed items will be displayed in the marketplace based on geographical proximity to the app user.
    • The listings are categorized into the following major categories, fish seeds, input materials, services, jobs, and table fish.
    • Every listing will contain detailed information about the product, price, available quantity, supply area, etc. along with the seller’s contact details.
  • The needy farmers/stakeholders can contact the vendors and fulfill their procurements.
  • It also allows the fish farmers to list their grown table-size fish/fish seeds for sale with an option to indicate the date of availability along with the price offer.
    • Interested fish buyers will contact the farmers and offer their prices.
• Significance:
  • The online marketplace will help the fish farmers and stakeholders to source the inputs such as fish seeds, feed, medicines, etc., and services required for fish culture as well as farmers can also list their table-size fish for sale.
    • The marketplace aims to connect all stakeholders in the aquaculture sector.
    • Reliable information about the timely availability of quality inputs in the right place is very crucial for the success and development of freshwater aquaculture in the country.
  • It will certainly help the farmers to receive more business inquiries from buyers or buyer agents who procure fish, paving the way for increased awareness about the market situation and better price realization of farmers' produce.

Q. What was the Need to Launch this Initiative?

A. 

• At times, fish farmers do face problems in sourcing critical, quality inputs such as fish seeds, feed, feed ingredients, fertilizers, nutraceuticals, additives, medicines, etc., during the crop season.
  • Any delay in obtaining these inputs would cause significant consequences in the productivity of their fish culture operation.
  • Sometimes, farmers also look for services such as farm construction, rental services, manpower for harvesting, etc.
    • Similarly, at certain times, fish farmers do face difficulties in selling their produce in the market or they only rely upon a limited number of buyers/agents to procure their fish produced.