This report explores the digitalization of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India's agriculture and allied sectors, focusing on how these enterprises are navigating the evolving digital landscape. MSMEs are a critical part of the Indian economy, contributing significantly to employment, industrial production, and exports. However, despite growing efforts to promote digital integration, MSMEs in the agriculture sector face uneven adoption of digital technologies. The study examines two key areas of digitalization: MSMEs as users of digital technologies to enhance business operations, such as e-commerce platforms and digital payment systems, and MSMEs as providers of digital solutions, including AgTech innovations and food-tech enterprises.
Through a combination of literature review and in-depth interviews with 30 MSMEs, the research investigates the extent to which digital pathways support equitable growth, particularly for women-led enterprises. The analysis delves into issues of autonomy, market access, and dependency on large digital platforms, with a special focus on gendered experiences in digital transformation. This study provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for MSMEs in adopting and benefiting from digitalization, emphasizing the need for supportive policies that foster inclusivity and innovation in the agricultural value chain.
This report is published as part of IT for Change's 'Digital Economic Integration of MSMEs in the Global South' project.
Read the report here.