Question : Operation Green for Farmers’ Income

(a) whether the Government proposes to launch Operation Green on the lines of operation flood to achieve the targets and aims of doubling the farmers’ income by 2022 across the country including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has finalised the modalities of Operation Green and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has held any consultations with the stakeholders to determine the contours of Operation Green with an allocation of Rs. 500 crore with a focus to prevent distress sale by tomato, potato and onion farmers and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government is also considering to create infrastrucutre for natural preservation of tomato, potato and onion crops and promote the farmers producers organizations, agri-logistics processing facilities and professional management and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government proposes to launch any new scheme to remove the middlemen and purchase agricultural produce directly from the farmers and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Government has linked the production areas with the procurement/ consumption centres in the country and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)


(a): In the budget speech 2018-2019, Hon’ble Finance Minister announced launching of “Operation Greens” on the lines of “Operation Flood” to promote Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management with an allocation of Rs, 500 crore. The successful implementation of this scheme has potential to increase the income of the farmers in the catchment area of tomato, onion and potato crops across the country.

(b) & (c): Ministry had organized two consultations with stakeholders 05/02/2018 and on 20/02/2018 to determine the contours of “Operation Greens”. Based on the inputs from the various stakeholders, the modalities of “Operation Greens” are being worked out by the Ministry.

(d): Under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, assistance is provided for development of infrastructure for post-harvest management and marketing such as marketing including establishment cold storages, processing units, pack houses, pre-cooling units, controlled atmosphere storage, reefer vans, integrated cold chain and setting up ripening chambers. Further, under post-harvest component credit linked back ended subsidy @ 35% to @ 50% of the project cost is available. Assistance for creation of cold storage/cold chain component is available to individuals, group farmers/growers/consumer, partnership/ proprietary firms, self-help groups, farmers producer organizations, companies, corporations, cooperatives, cooperative marketing federations, agricultural produce market committees & marketing boards, state governments and local bodies like panchayats.

Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), implemented by this Ministry, there is several existing schemes such as Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure, Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages and Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities, for creation of preservation and processing infrastructure, processing capacities, logistics etc. for all agriculture produces, including tomato, potato and onion crops.

(e) & (f): Government has launched National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) on 14th April, 2016 with objective to reduce price gap, induce competition and transparency in sale transactions. e-NAM has been implemented in 470 wholesale markets in 14 States in which competitive online bidding system has been introduced for better price realization by the farmers. e-NAM will link production areas with consumption centres in the country.

Further, the Government released a new model “The Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017” on 24th April, 2017 for its adoption by States/UTs. The provisions include setting up of private markets, direct marketing, farmer-consumer markets, special commodity markets, declaring warehouses/silos/cold storages or such structures as market sub yards. Adoption of these reforms by State, create alternate marketing channels for better price realization by farmers.

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