Question : Operation Greens

(a) whether the Government has launched “Operation Greens” to address price fluctuations in potato, tomato and onion for the benefit of farmers and consumers and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has announced that MSP for kharif crops will be one and half times of their production cost and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is planning to develop 22000 e-linked Gramin Agri Markets and if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated therefor;

(d) whether the Government is planning to restructure National Bamboo Mission to promote bamboo sector, if so, the details thereof and the various steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) the timeline by which the above schemes/plans will be implemented in the country, State-wise and scheme-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Yes, Madam. In the budget speech 2018-19, Hon’ble Finance Minister announced launching of “Operation Green” on lines of “Operation Flood” to promote Farmers Producers Organization (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management with an allocation of Rs. 500 crore.

In this regard, consultation with stakeholders was held 05.02.2018 under chairmanship of Secretary, Food Processing Industries (FPI) and on 20.02.2018 under Chairpersonship of Hon’ble Minister, FPI to deliberate on the framework and interventions of the “Operation Greens”.

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Based on the inputs from the various stakeholders, the scheme is under preparation in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
(b): The Union Budget for 2018-19 has announced the pre-determined principle to keep Minimum Support Price (MSP) at levels of one and half times the cost of production for Kharif crops also in the lines of that already implemented for Rabi crops in October 2017.

Government has increased MSPs of 6 mandated rabi crops for 2017-18 session on 24th October, 2017 on the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP). The MSPs fixed by the Government for rabi crops provide adequate return over weighted average cost of production. The return over weighted average cost of production for MSPs fixed by Government for rabi crops for 2017-18 has been in excess of 50% for majority of rabi crops with return of 112.4% for wheat, 88.4% for rapeseed/mustard, 79.6% for masur, 78.8% for gram and 66.9% for barley.

Earlier in this year Government had increased the MSPs of 14 mandated Kharif crops. The MSPs fixed by Government for 3 kharif crops viz. bajra, tur and urad provide returns of more than 50% over weighted average cost of production.
(c): As per Union Budget Announcement 2018-19, the Government has decided to develop and upgrade existing 22,000 rural haats into Gramin Agriculture Markets (GrAMs). In these GrAMs, physical infrastructure is targeted to be strengthen using Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other Government schemes. An Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund with a corpus of Rs. 2000 crore is targeted to be set up for developing and upgrading agricultural marketing infrastructure in the 22000 GrAMs and 585 Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
(d): Budget Announcement for restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was made with an outlay of Rs. 1290 crore. The NBM would address complete value chain development of bamboo, for holistic development of the sector, has been approved by the Expenditure Finance Committee in its meeting held on 19.01.2018 for implementation from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Though the NBM would be anchored in DAC&FW, a multi disciplinary approach has been adopted by assigning specific roles to concerned Ministries and Departments.

(e): As per details provided in point (a) to (d).

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