India Post’s pilot in Gujarat helps 5 FPOs overcome logistic challenges, business doubles

A pilot project launched in Gujarat under the guidance of Chief Postmaster General Ganesh Sawaleshwarkar has become a transformative solution for local Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Since its inception in late November 2025 in Ahmedabad, the initiative has enabled five FPOs to automate their delivery processes seamlessly. Over the past eight months, more than 40,000 items, including pulses, cumin, dry snacks, spices, and millet cookies, have been delivered through the postal network.

The core of the model involves storing inventory directly within post offices. FPOs list their products on the MyStore App, which is part of the government-promoted Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). When a customer places an order, postal staff receive a real-time notification on their dashboard, pack the items, and handle the dispatch. This arrangement removes the heavy logistical burden from the farmers, allowing them to focus entirely on production quality and farm management.

The project has since expanded from Ahmedabad to six additional locations, including Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Gandhinagar. Mahesh Karangia, head of the Jamnagar-based Ranmal FPC, noted a significant business boost: since joining in January, the FPO has delivered over 30,000 items. Their turnover for the current fiscal year reached approximately ₹4 crore by July, showing strong growth compared to the ₹7 crore total achieved in the entire 2025-26 fiscal year.

Ganesh Sawaleshwarkar emphasized that the program was inspired by the Agriculture Ministry to help farmer collectives resolve supply chain issues. The post office provides the necessary storage space for small, pre-packaged goods ranging from 100 to 1,000 grams. By leveraging existing postal infrastructure, the initiative has reduced shipment costs, making products more affordable and competitive on digital marketplaces, which has led to a surge in repeat customer orders.

Looking ahead, India Post is evaluating the potential for further expansion. With ONDC continuing to onboard more farmer collectives, the infrastructure for rural-to-urban trade is strengthening. At the peak of the pilot, some days saw as many as 5,000 orders, demonstrating the massive scalability of this logistical partnership for India’s growing agricultural enterprise sector.