Lok Sabha Question No. 445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Assistance to Onion and Tomato Farmers
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Shri Aashtikar Patil Nagesh Bapurao, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane, Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 445

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## ASSISTANCE TO ONION AND TOMATO FARMERS

## 445. SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:

SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO:

SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk  ekeys]  [kk|  vkSj  lkoZtfud  forj.k  ea=h be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the prices of onions and tomatoes have fallen drastically in the domestic market resulting hardship to farmers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken by the Government to make sure that onion and tomato farmers get optimum price for their produce;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  loss  suffered  by  the  onion  and  tomato  farmers  in  the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to provide any financial assistance to onion and tomato farmers of Maharashtra to pull them out of this crisis;
- (e) whether inadequate and improper storage facilities and lack of number of godowns in the country is one of the major reasons for suffering of farmers in the country; and
- (f) if so, the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh Ckh-,y-oekZ½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

- (a) : No, Sir. The prices of onions and tomatoes have not fallen drastically in domestic market. The all-India retail prices of onions and tomatoes as on 19.07.2024 are Rs. 44.15 per kg and Rs. 72.69, respectively.

(b) to (d)  :

Does not arise.

(e)  &  (f)  :    Highly  perishable  commodities  like  onions  and  potatoes  requires  controlled  atmosphere technology for storage. Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the Integrated Cold Chain and  Value  Addition  Infrastructure  as  one  of  the  component  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Sampada  Yojana (PMKSY) with the objective of arresting post-harvest losses of horticulture and non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for setting up  of integrated cold  chain projects  including  irradiation  facility  without  any  break from the farm gate to the consumer. The integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure can be set up by individuals, groups of entrepreneurs, cooperative societies, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), NGOs, Central/State PSUs, etc.

Under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, financial assistance is being provided for setting up of new cold storage infrastructure. Assistance is available to individuals, Group of farmers/ growers/ consumers, Partnership/ Proprietary  firms,  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs),  Farmers  Producer  Organization  (FPOs),  Companies, Corporations,  Cooperatives,  Cooperative  Marketing  Federations,  Local  bodies,  Agricultural  Produce Market Committees (APMC) and Marketing Boards and State Governments.

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