Govt gives nod to ‘Operation Green’ stabilizing supply of tomato, onion and potatoes

NewsBharati    05-Nov-2018
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New Delhi, November 5: Living up to the promise made to the farmers by supporting them in crop production, the government on Monday approved the operationalization strategy for Operation Greens to ensure availability of Tomato, Onion and Potato throughout the country round the year without price volatility. Operation Greens was announced in the Budget speech of 2018-19 with an outlay of 500 crore rupees to stabilize the supply of Tomato, Onion and Potato crops.

 

Approving the measures, Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that price volatility of these crops wreaks havoc in the households of this country. She said, this is a revolutionary scheme which has been evolved after sustained dialogue with all stakeholders.

The Minister also said that the government has laid down special measures and grants-in-aid under the scheme to ensure enhanced production of these crops. The 'Operation Greens' programme was announced to promote farmer producers organisations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management.

The major objectives of this programme include enhancing sales realization of farmers growing these crops by strengthening production clusters and their FPOs, and linking or connecting them with the market. It also seeks "price stabilisation for producers and consumer by proper production planning in the TOP clusters and introduction of dual use varieties".

The scheme aims to reduce post-harvest losses by creation of farm gate infrastructure, agro- logistics and storage capacity. It would help building processing capacities and value addition.

The eligible organisation for availing financial assistance would include State Agriculture and other Marketing Federations, Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), cooperatives, companies, Self Help Groups, food processor, logistic operators, service providers, state governments etc.