Ode to Earth is a national initiative of ACCESS Development Services to link small producers to mainstream markets. Under this initiative, ACCESS is bringing together a national network of producer groups, NGOs and other organisations & networks to provide services that help and facilitate its member organisations to access mainstream markets through well-structured business development services and processes.
As a run-up to the structuring of the network, the first Ode to Earth market event was organized at the Microfinance India Summit in 2008 in which over 65 artisan groups participated. In the second Ode to Earth market event in early 2010, the participation and the product range significantly increased and the retail sales were much higher. Over these two years, the Ode to Earth brand has become well recognized and artisan groups have expressed their keenness to continue their association with the ACCESS initiative.
Based on the success and benefits of these two events, there was a demand for developing a strategy that would provide ongoing and sustainable support to artisans. The idea of Ode to Earth was initiated and evolved to better understand the market dynamics and facilitate artisan groups to better negotiate with the market. In the next phase, it is envisaged that Ode to Earth will work towards the setting up of a for-profit, producer-owned marketing company, with a possible stake-holding of the network member organizations to make the initiative sustainable and self-reliant.