Lok Sabha Question No. 2423 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: Operation Green Scheme
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi, Kripanath Mallah, Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Sukanta Majumdar, Bhola Singh, Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Manne Srinivas Reddy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sarmistha Sethi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2423 ANSWERED ON 09 TH  MARCH, 2021

## OPERATION GREENS SCHEME

## 2423.   DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY:

SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BAAIYA) :

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the Operation Green Scheme;
- (b) the  details  of  the  fund  sanctioned,  allocated  and  utilized  under  this  scheme  so  far, State/UT-wise specially in Tamil Nadu and Assam;
- (c) the details of the number of products that are being covered under this scheme within Tamil Nadu and Assam;
- (d) the details of the target set and achievements made so far along with its response;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to include 22 perishable products under the scope of 'Operation  Greens  Scheme'  which  is  presently  applicable  to  tomatoes,  onions  and potatoes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the demands received/action taken by the Government in this regard, State/UT-wise, so far?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a): In pursuance to budget announcement for the year 2018-19, Ministry has launched a new  central  sector  scheme  'Operation  Greens  -  a  scheme  for  integrated  development  of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) value chain' with a budgetary allocation of Rs. 500 crores in November 2018.

Under short term price stabilization measures, during glut situation subsidy is provided at the rate of 50% for transportation and storage, for evacuation of TOP crops from production surplus areas to consumption centres. Further, in pursuance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, this subsidy has been extended from Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) crops to a total of 41

notified horticulture crops (TOTAL) for a period of six months, if prices fall below the average prices for last three years or 15% below of previous year's price. The scheme has been extended till 31 st March, 2021.

Transportation subsidy @50% under the scheme was extended to Kisan Rail Scheme w.e.f. 12.10.2020 for all fruits and vegetables. Scheme Guidelines were further amended to provide transportation subsidy to all fruits and vegetables being transported by air from the NER and Himalayan Region States and to provide 50% subsidy to eligible entities through NAFED for transportation and/or storage of apple from Jammu and Kashmir.

Under long term integrated value chain development, Grant-in-aid is provided at the rate of 50% (70% in case of FPOs and SC/ST) of the eligible project cost, subject to maximum of Rs.50 Crore per project, for setting up of integrated value chain development projects for Tomato, Onion and Potato in identified clusters in major producing states.

- (b): The details of the funds allocated and expenditure since 2018-2019 are as under:-

(Rs. in Crore)

| Year    |    BE |     RE | AE                       |
|---------|-------|--------|--------------------------|
| 2018-19 |   0   | 200    | 5.50                     |
| 2019-20 | 200   |  32.48 | 2.84                     |
| 2020-21 | 127.5 |  38.2  | 32.20 (as on 03.03.2021) |

There is no state-wise allocation of fund under the scheme.

- (c): Under long-term measures of Operation Greens scheme, there is provision for setting up of integrated value chain development projects for Tomato, Onion and Potato in identified clusters in major producing States. Tamil Nadu and Assam are not in the list of major producing States for Tomato, Onion and Potato.

However, under Operation Green TOP to TOTAL scheme, the production clusters for the different horticulture crops namely Bitter gourd, Brinjal, Carrot, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Okra, Papaya, Pineapple, Potato for Assam and Carrot, Passion Fruits, Amla, Banana, Beans, Guava, Mango, Papaya, Onion, Tomato for Tamil Nadu have been identified.

- (d): Under long-term measures, Ministry had approved 6 integrated value chain projects with total project cost of Rs.363.30 Crore, including approved grant-in-aid of Rs.136.82 Crore, which  are  expected  to  create  46,950  MT  of  storage  capacity;  3.36  Lakh  MT/annum  of processing facility; benefit about 35,000 number of farmers and generate about 18,000 number of direct and indirect employment.
- (e) & (f): Hon'ble Finance Minister,in the budget speech for 2021-22, has announced that to boost  value  addition  in  agriculture  and  allied  products  and  their  exports,  the  scope  of  the Operation Greens Scheme, presently applicable to Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) will be enlarged to 22 perishable products.

The identified perishable products are as under:-

Fruits: Mango, Banana, Apple, Pineapple, Orange, Grapes, Aonla/Amla,Pomegranate, Guava, Litchi;

Vegetables: Peas, Carrot, Cauliflower, Beans, Bitter gourd, Okra, Garlic, Ginger;

Marine: Shrimp;