State agencies to help local artisans sell online
Ongole: The Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDP) are exploring opportunities and conducting market surveys to help the local artisans and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) in the state to market their products in online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart.
In September, the APEDB initiated a strategic collaboration with Amazon and the executives from the e-commerce giant met the government officials in Vijayawada. The teams from both organisations discussed on developing integrated logistics, market linkages and other related issues.
The Amazon has more than 15 agencies onboard its 'Kala Haat' programme for the Handloom and Handicraft section on its website and identifies artisans and weavers across India. It provides an opportunity to sell to global customers, based on the cluster.
It also proposed to select a product that would be identified with its place from each district under 'One District One Product' programme. The APSSDC officials and the Amazon representatives visited various places in the state and identified a few products like Kondapalli toys from Krishna district, silk saris from Prakasam district, Udayagiri wooden cutlery from Nellore district, Uppada Silk saris from East Godavari district, etc.,
In Prakasam district, the APSSDC team selected the Chirala handloom cluster and identified that they could market nine types of saris, including Kuppadam Silk, Pure Silk, Tissue Silk and Jacquard saris along with cotton saris and dress materials.
R Lokanatham, APSSDC manager for the Prakasam district, said once the MoU was entered, the APSSDC staff would train the artisans and weavers through workshops in online marketing formalities like creating accounts and listing products.
A senior officer from APEDB, requesting anonymity, said that the Kala Haat and ODOP programmes by the Amazon would help the artisans, weavers and MSMEs strengthen their capacities and provide a global market.
He said that they will not be limited to Amazon alone but they could also use other online market platforms like Flipkart or may open their own online store with the experience. He said that the collaboration between APEDB and APSSDC would provide handicrafts from even remote places in the state would get a global market very soon.