Rain, Sunshine, some good soil and now, an internet connection, are the must-haves for farmers, with India Post’s latest initiative: a programme aimed at aiding farmers to sell their produce online. The postal department is set to launch a pilot project, freely providing farmers the opportunity to gather relevant data about their crops and upload them online, via village postmasters deployed to collect the same, for traders to browse and buy.

The plan is to provide postmasters smartphones to be used for capturing images of farm commodities for use on the website. While farmers needn’t pay an extra penny, India Post will collect a minimal fee from buyers, with the added condition of using India Post services to transport the goods. With this service, the department reportedly aims at strengthening its logistics infrastructure connecting various commodity markets in AP and Telangana and between Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru. Further, special incentives aimed at the postmasters and increasing fleet size are expected as the project matures. With a minimum target of Rs 10 crore in revenue from agricommodity, this creative development will be received warmly by both sides.

Expected to be launched in the coming weeks in two locations in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, the idea comes at a time where postal services struggle to remain relevant, and farmers face increasingly hard times to find buyers. The Logical Indian applauds this remarkable win-win idea and eagerly awaits similar breakthroughs and innovations.