Lok Sabha Question No. 166 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Green Corridor for Agricultural Products
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Bharti Pravin Pawar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.166

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  2 ND  FEBRUARY, 2021

## GREEN CORRIDOR FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

166.   DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any request for setting up a green corridor to enable farmers to move agricultural products from rural areas to major towns and cities; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): In pursuance of Union Budget 2020-21, 'KISAN RAIL' Service was initiated  by Indian Railways that serve as trains with multi commodities (all perishables and agro-products and seeds), multiconsignors, and multi consignees primarily to enable farmers and producers to  move their  agricultural  produce from  rural  areas  to  major  towns  and  cities.  These  trains operate in a time-tabled manner, whereby loading and unloading can be done at any of the stations  with  stoppages.  A  farmer  can  book  a  few  kilograms  to  several  Tonnes  as  per  his requirement and no minimum or maximum size of consignment is prescribed.

So  far,  Indian  Railways  have  operated  157  Kisan  Rail  services  on  18  routes  for transportation of fruits, vegetables and other perishables. Under 'Operation Greens - TOP to Total' scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, a subsidy of 50% is being granted on the transportation of fruits and vegetables via Kisan Rail.

Furthermore, Bharatmala Pariyojana has been taken up by Ministry of Road, Transport &  Highways,  which  envisages  the  development  of  34,800  km  of  National  Highways  under Phase  I  of  the  program  to  improve  the  efficiency  of  logistics  and  freight  movement  in  the Nation.  As  a  part  of  the  Bharatmala  Pariyojana  Phase  I,  24  greenfield  corridors  covering about 7500 km has been planned which includes 6 Greenfiled Expressways of 2375 km and 18  greenfield  access-controlled  corridors  of  5325  km,  passing  through  hinterland  regions thereby improving connectivity to major urban centres providing a boost to economy in these regions.

To further address the transportation issues of Farmers, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) and Traders, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare, Govt. of India has launched the Kisan Rath Mobile Application.  The App facilitates the  Farmers, FPOs and Traders to post their load requests for transportation of agriculture and horticulture produce which are sent to transport aggregators and individual transporters who can revert to them with service details. So far 99,756 tractor trolleys and 9,85,232 trucks have been on boarded for providing services.

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