Kisan Rail: 50% Govt subsidy on transportation of fruits, vegetables by IR

50% Subsidy on transportation of fruits & vegetables

In a massive incentive to the farmers, Kisan Rail Freight transportation of notified fruits and vegetables subsidized by 50%.

As a further support and incentive for the farmers using the services of Kisan Rail, Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Food Processing Industries have decided that the 50% subsidy on transportation of notified fruits and vegetables (under ‘Operation Greens – TOP to Total’ scheme of MoFPI) shall be granted directly to Kisan Rail – for which MoFPI will provide necessary funds to Ministry of Railways.

• Read about ‘Operation Greens- TOP to Total‘ scheme.

This subsidy has become applicable of Kisan Rail trains with effect from 14.10.2020.

Eligible Items under subsidy:

Indian Railways has decided that the following notified fruits & vegetables will get the benefit with immediate effect i.e. 14.10.2020.

Fruits- Mango, Banana, Guava, Kiwi, Litchi, Papaya, Mousambi, Orange, Kinnow, Lime, Lemon,  Pineapple, Pomegranate, Jackfruit, Apple, Almond, Aonla, Passion fruit and Pear;

Vegetables – French beans, Bitter Gourd, Brinjal, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chillies (Green), Okra, Cucumber, Peas, Garlic, Onion, Potato and Tomato.

Any other fruit/vegetable can be added in future on the basis of recommendation by Ministry of Agriculture or State Government.

Source: PIB

Kisan Rail: for transportation of agro products-

Kisan Rail ensures agro products reach from one corner to another corner of the country in a quick time by faster transportation benefitting both the farmers and the consumers.

Kisan Rail is surely changing the lives of farmers with the assurance of better price with faster & cheaper transportation, providing seamless supply chain, preventing the destruction of perishable farm produce thereby opening up the scope to increase the income of farmers.

The Kisan Rail catering to the requirements of small farmers and small traders is proving to be not only a game changer but also a life changer as it fulfils the endeavour of increasing the income of farmers.

Status of Kisan Rails:

• The first Kisan Rail on 07.08.2020: ex Devlali (Nashik, Maharashtra) to Danapur (Patna, Bihar), was inaugurated on 07.08.2020 – as a weekly train. Subsequently on popular demand the train has been extended to Muzaffarpur (Bihar), and has also been made bi-weekly. In addition, link coaches – from Sangla and Pune – have also been introduced which joins this Kisan Rail at Manmad.

• Second Kisan Rail on 09.09.2020: – from Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) to Adarsh Nagar Delhi – was inaugurated on 09.09.2020, as a weekly train. Read More– Kisan Rail flagged off from Andhra Pradesh to New Delhi

• Third Kisan Rail on 09.09.2020:– from Bengaluru (Karnataka) to Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi) – was inaugurated on 09.09.2020, as a weekly train.

• Fourth Kisan Rail on 14.10.2020:– from Nagpur & Warud Orange City (Maharashtra) to Adarsh Nagar Delhi – was inaugurated on 14.10.2020.

It is worth mentioning that Indian Railways is continuously making efforts to move the agro products through freight trains. Even during the lockdown, the freight trains of Indian Railways were moving to ensure continuous supply of essential commodities so that no part in the country should face any hardship. There has been significant improvement in loading of crops like wheat, pulses, fruits, vegetables with more rakes.

About Operation Greens (TOP to TOTAL) -MoFPI

Scheme approved on 10.06.2020, Scheme guidelines notified on 11.06.2020

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has recently 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 salient features of the guidelines are as below:

1. Objective:- 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.
2. Eligible Crops:-
   • 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.
   • Any other fruit/vegetable can be added in future on the basis of recommendation by Ministry of Agriculture or State Government (List of eligible crops, selected surplus production clusters and trigger price for intervention under the scheme – Please (Click Here).
3. Duration of Scheme:- for the period of six months from the date of notification i.e., 11/06/2020.
4. Eligible Entities:- 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.
5. Pattern of Assistance:- Ministry will provide subsidy @ 50 % of the cost of the following two components, subject to the cost norms:
   • 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);
6. Submission of claim for subsidy – Eligible entities, who comply with the aforesaid essential criteria may undertake the transportation and/or storage of notified crops from notified surplus production cluster, without any prior approval from MoFPI and thereafter submit their claim on online portal https://www.sampada-mofpi.gov.in/Login.aspx.

The applicant should register on the portal before carrying out transportation/storage of fruits and vegetables. For Registration, please (Click Here).

For list of districts of each crops mentioned in Serial No. 7.5 of Horticulture Statistics at Glance 2018 published by Ministry of Agriculture, which will be taken as eligible production clusters subject to meeting of the criterion of essential conditions, please (Click Here).

Source: MoFPI