Trifed ties up with Big Basket to expand online marketing of Tribes India Van Dhan

20 Sep 2021

Tribal and forest produce markeing organisation, Trifed and online grocery sales platform Big Basket have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU), under which Trifed will leverage the marketing infrastructure, expertise and reach of Big Basket to make the organics, naturals and Trifood Van Dhan products available to a wider clientele across the country.

The MoU will also enable Big Basket to enrich its portfolio by inclusion of hand-made authentic forest products sourced by the tribal population. This collaboration will also promote Big Basket’s social cause by means of promoting tribal entrepreneurship and generating livelihood opportunity for the tribals.
E-grocery has been one of the fastest-growing segments in the consumer e-commerce space and its growth is propelled by India’s rising consumption and digital penetration. The current pandemic has further accelerated its adoption as consumers seek the convenience of ordering quality groceries delivered safely at home. BigBasket was founded in 2011 in Bangalore and has expanded its presence to 25+ cities across India since then. In the e-grocery space, BigBasket provides one of the largest assortments (and provides customers the convenience of home deliveries on preferred dates and time slots). 
This partnership will give a great opportunity to modern-day consumers who are more aware and particular about their health and lifestyle needs. Healthier alternatives with great potential are product categories like Van Dhan Naturals, food grains, oils, bakery, beverages, snacks, cleaning and household, beauty & hygiene, gourmet, etc.
Customers can look forward to the multiple offerings through an exclusive range of the Trifed–Tribes India - Van Dhan on BigBasket.com.
“The government is taking up ambitious transformational programmes which will prove to be game changer for the tribal livelihoods in times to come,” union minister of tribal affairs Arjun Munda said while speaking at the onboarding of two major initiatives for boosting tribal livelihoods.
He said the ministry of tribal affairs and Trifed are working on a war footing to bring about social and economic empowerment of tribal people through large number of such initiatives for establishing an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The minister said that the tribal artisans, tribal producers, their products and livelihood programmes are the focus of the prime minister. Tribal products are being brought into the market through value addition and ensuring outstanding quality with the help of research and design through Trifed and various initiatives of the ministry of tribal affairs, he said. 
The tribal people have hidden talents and a great potential for making excellent products and they believe in “Mera Van - MeraDhan - MeraUdhyam”. “As a nation, it is our duty to ensure that their skills, arts and crafts are not lost for posterity, therefore these programmes have been launched today to benefit the tribals countrywide, the minister added.
Speaking at the occasion, Pravir Krishna, managing director, Trifed, said that Trifed is working day and night to find new and better marketing opportunities, both domestically and internationally, for the unique tribal products and minor forest produce. He further added that these two new initiatives will become operational from 2 October this year and will give a new thrust to tribal livelihoods.
Trifed is continuing to forge partnerships with different organisations to create synergies together, as a part of its ongoing efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of the tribals and tribal empowerment. 
As India moves ahead with its strategy for India@75 and focuses on converting development into a mass movement, TRIFED is working with its roots in ground realities and emphasizing the welfare both in design and implementation. With the focus on “Vocal for Local” and building an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, TRIFED is undertaking several path breaking activities, while re-dedicating its efforts towards tribal empowerment, says a government release.
Simultaneously, Trifed has entered into an MoU with PurtyAgrotech of Jharkhand. ShriBuddhan Singh Purtyof PurtyAgrotech, an origin of “Ho tribe” from East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, is a tribal entrepreneur who has a unique business for developing pearl cultivation. In order to promote the art of growing pearls among other tribal entrepreneurs and tap the potential of this market, Trifed plans to create a market for this unique craft and at the same time assisting ShriBuddhan Singh Purtyof PurtyAgrotech in developing a more professional and business-oriented enterprise with this collaboration.
The two organisations have partnered to work jointly towards the overall upliftment of the tribal community in the following areas:
·       Trifed will empanel PurtyAgrotechas supplier to Tribes India and procure pearls which shall be sold through the network of 141 Tribes India outlets and various ecommerce platforms.
·       Under the tech for tribal initiatives, ShriBuddhan Singh Purty will be developed as a Master Trainer and transfer of technology and techniques in the form of knowledge sharing with more tribal SHGs in order to promote aqua culture in self-reliant tribal entrepreneurs.
·       PurtyAgrotech can be further developed into Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Cluster and further value addition and processing leveraging SFURTI scheme of MSME.
·       VDVK clusters engaged in pisciculture where the pond is available can be used for oyster breeding, which can be taken up simultaneously as an additional business activity.
·       Besides, it is planned to develop 25 VDVKCs in Jharkhand where such aquaculture business for pearl farming activities can be carried out.
The breeding of oysters and development of pearls is a sustainable business and can easily be emulated by those tribal gatherers who have access to nearby water body. Trifed plans to handhold those VDVK clusters involved in pisciculture by initially identifying them and help them further develop oyster breeding in it.