Empowering Mumbai's Koli Women: Transforming Seafood Trade Through Innovation
Mumbai’s Koli women are rewriting the seafood business one WhatsApp order at a time
The Economic TimesImage: The Economic Times
Koli women in Mumbai are revolutionizing the seafood industry by forming the Daryavardi Producer Company Limited (DPCL), a community-owned business that integrates modern branding, logistics, and digital ordering. This initiative aims to preserve cultural identity while enhancing their economic standing in the city.
- 01Koli women have established the Daryavardi Producer Company Limited (DPCL) to formalize their seafood trade.
- 02The company has over 1,000 shareholders and employs modern business practices like digital ordering and branding.
- 03DPCL generated revenue of ₹20 lakh in the last quarter of 2026.
- 04The initiative aims to reclaim social status for the Koli community in Mumbai.
- 05Women are learning new skills in packaging and logistics to enhance product quality and marketability.
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Mumbai's Koli women are transforming their traditional seafood trade through the establishment of the Daryavardi Producer Company Limited (DPCL), founded in April 2023. This community-owned seafood company, run entirely by Koli women, aims to formalize their historically informal trade while preserving their cultural identity. With over 1,000 shareholders, DPCL operates through self-help groups focused on procurement, fish processing, and ready-to-eat seafood products. The women have embraced modern business practices, including digital ordering and branding, significantly impacting their operations. At a recent workshop, they learned that effective packaging can enhance shelf life and consumer confidence, leading to better sales. DPCL generated ₹20 lakh in revenue in the last quarter of 2026 and is expanding into experiential food markets and cloud kitchens. This initiative not only aims to boost economic prospects but also seeks to restore the social standing of the Koli community in Mumbai, which has felt sidelined in recent years.
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The DPCL initiative empowers Koli women, enhancing their economic prospects and restoring their social status in Mumbai.
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