Need to Extend Operation Greens in 2021-22

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) had earlier this year in the month of June extended the Operation Greens Scheme from Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) to all fruits & vegetables (TOTAL) for a period of six months on pilot basis as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

The crops notified were: Fruits- Mango, Banana, Guava, Kiwi, Lichi, Papaya, Citrus, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Jackfruit; Vegetables: - French beans, Bitter Gourd, Brinjal, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chillies (Green), Okra, Onion, Potato and Tomato.

However, on recommendations by Ministry of Agriculture or State Government any other fruit/vegetable could be added in future on the basis of the selected surplus production clusters and trigger price for intervention under the scheme.

Food Processors, FPO/FPC, Co-operative Societies, Individual farmers, Licensed Commission Agent, Exporters, State Marketing/Co- operative Federation, Retailers etc. engaged in processing/ marketing of fruits and vegetables could avail benefits of this scheme. The scheme initiated on June 11, 2020 recently ended Dec. 11th with the objective of intervention is to protect the growers of fruits and vegetables from making distress sale due to lockdown and reduce the post -harvest losses.

MoFPI would provide 50 % subsidy of the cost of the following two components, subject to the cost norms i.e. Transportation of eligible crops from surplus production cluster to consumption centre; and/or Hiring of appropriate storage facilities for eligible crops (for maximum period of 3 months).

With 2021 being celebrated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fruits & Vegetables, the GOI should look towards extending such schemes. Such schemes will benefit our farmers and assist in helping them earn more. Hence, paving the way for meeting India’s goal towards Doubling Farmers Income (DFI) by 2022.