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ONDC's DigiHaat Launches to Digitize India's Artisans and Farmers

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has launched DigiHaat, a dedicated buyer-side application to connect rural artisans, farmers, and small producers directly with online markets. Operated by ONDC itself under DPIIT, the platform hosts products from handicrafts to organic foods and has a special focus on women entrepreneurs and remote self-help groups. In a unique integration, the app also features mobility services like Namma Yatri and Bharat Taxi to aid logistics. The government aims to bring 10 crore small producers onto the platform to formalize incomes and integrate them into the financial system.

Key Points: ONDC DigiHaat Platform for Artisans & Farmers

  • Direct buyer-seller platform for rural communities
  • Integrates ride-hailing like Namma Yatri
  • Features AI tools for vernacular cataloguing
  • Aims to onboard 10 crore small producers
2 min read

ONDC's DigiHaat brings artisans, farmers onto digital commerce grid

ONDC's new DigiHaat platform connects rural sellers to digital markets, featuring handicrafts, farm goods, and integrated mobility services.

"brings India's artisans, farmers and small producers onto the digital commerce grid - Official Announcement"

New Delhi, March 27

Open Network for Digital Commerce's new platform DigiHaat brings India's artisans, farmers and small producers onto the digital commerce grid, as the government pushes to formalise the country's vast informal economy, it was announced on Friday.

Launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), DigiHaat is a dedicated buyer-side application that directly connects rural and underserved seller communities with online markets.

Unlike other apps on the ONDC network that are privately run, DigiHaat represents ONDC's own marketplace presence and also acts as a testing ground for new features before they are expanded across the network.

The platform already hosts a wide range of products, including handicrafts, agricultural goods, packaged foods and lifestyle items.

It has a strong focus on women entrepreneurs and self-help group (SHG)-linked producers from remote regions.

Sellers onboarded so far include block-print textile makers from Jaipur, bronze artisans from Bastar, shawl producers from Kashmir and organic farmer-producer organisations from Sikkim.

In a unique move, DigiHaat has also integrated mobility services into its platform. Ride-hailing service Namma Yatri is now live on the app, along with Bharat Taxi, which operates mainly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

More mobility players are expected to join the network in the coming months, according to the official statement.

To make digital onboarding easier, a Beta AI toolkit is being developed for small and rural sellers.

The suite includes vernacular cataloguing tools that allow sellers to operate in regional languages, automated product listing from photographs and logistics intelligence aimed at reducing delivery failures and returns.

The government has set an ambitious target to bring nearly 10 crore small producers -- including farmers, weavers, dairy operators, tribal enterprises and artisans -- onto the platform.

The broader goal is to boost incomes and bring these communities into the formal financial system, rather than focusing only on increasing online transactions.

ONDC, which operates under DPIIT, was created to build an open and decentralised alternative to traditional e-commerce platforms.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
Great initiative, but execution is key. We've seen many government apps fail due to poor UX and slow performance. I hope the Beta AI toolkit is user-friendly for our rural artisans. The integration of mobility services like Namma Yatri is a smart, practical touch though.
A
Arjun K
Finally, a push to formalize the informal sector that actually focuses on boosting incomes, not just transactions. Bringing 10 crore small producers online is ambitious, but if successful, it will be a massive digital and financial inclusion win. Jai Hind!
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Sarah B
As someone who loves authentic Indian handicrafts, I'm excited! It's so hard to find genuine Bastar bronze or Kashmiri shawls online without worrying about authenticity. A direct platform from the artisans themselves? I'm downloading the app right now.
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Karthik V
The focus on women entrepreneurs and SHGs is commendable. My mother runs a small pickle business with her self-help group in Coimbatore. If this platform can handle logistics and payments reliably, it will empower millions of women like her. Fingers crossed!
M
Michael C
Building an open network to challenge the big e-commerce platforms is a bold move. The success will depend on network effects - getting enough buyers and sellers. Integrating taxi services is an interesting way to drive initial usage. Will be watching this space.
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