The Ministry of Food Processing Industries of India approved the operation greens scheme, along the line of “operation flood”. It aims for a sustainable supply of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) crops across the country with a stable price throughout the year.

The Finance Minister of India introduced this scheme in the union budget on 2018-19. With an expenditure of ₹500 crores, it aids FPOs, processing facilities, agri-logistics and professional management.

Keep reading to know about this scheme along with its objectives, strategies and benefits.

The Ministry of Finance announced a new scheme, named “operation greens”, to stabilise the price and supply of TOP crops. This program aims to ensure that the farmers get a fair price on their produce. Thus, NAFED acts as a coordinating body to execute price stabilisation measures.

The Government extended this scheme in June 2020 to comprise all vegetables and fruits for 6 months. This step was a trial to incorporate the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with this scheme.

Below are some key objectives of the operation green scheme in India:

• The Government intercedes to ensure the TOP farmer attains the appropriate value of crops by-
  • Reinforcing the TOP producing conglomeration and their FPOs, and
  • Enhancing direct linkage to the market.
• It also focuses on stabilising crops’ price for consumers and producers by-
  • Enhancing production planning in TOP farmers, and
  • Introducing duo-functional varieties.
• Another primary objective is to mitigate post-harvest damages and losses by-
  • Improving farm infrastructure and building farm gates,
  • Developing requisite agri-logistics,
  • Linking outlets directly to create better storage capacity.
• It aims to intensify food processing capacities by linking farms with production clusters.
• This also helps in value addition in Tomato, Onion and Potato crops’ value chain.
• It also aims to establish a market agility network to accumulate actual data on TOP supply, demand and prices.

The operation greens scheme has 2 strategies that aim at the following objects-

• Implementing price stabilisation programs for short term
• Projects to develop a cohesive value chain in a long run

Price Stabilisation Operations (Short Term)

The farmers will receive a 50% subsidy from MOFPI on these 2 elements:

• Transporting TOP Crops (Tomato, Onion and Potato) from farm to storage
• Renting requisite storage set-up for TOP Crops

Cohesive Value Chain Development Plans (Long Term)

Followings are the components of this plan:

• Forming and equipping Farmer Producers Organizations, subjected to at least 5% of the total project cost.
• Ensuring an enhanced quality of production by providing seeds and facilitating protected farming. This also includes automation of agricultural practices and encouraging contract cultivation.
• Connecting to agri-Logistics to provide storage facilities for different regions and inspect price hikes.
• Building post-cultivation processing facilities by providing necessary infrastructures for transportation.
• Enhancing marketing by connecting consumption Points and setting up retail outlets.
• Forming and managing an e-platform to supervise TOP Crops’ supply and demand.

What Are the Benefits of the Operation Greens Scheme?

The operation greens scheme will provide a grant of 50% of qualified project costs in every area. Although it extends up to 70% for FPOs, it is curbed at a maximum limit of ₹ 50 crores for each project.

Eligible organisations include:

• Farmer Producer Organisations
• Self-help groups
• State Agriculture Department
• Food processors
• Marketing Federations
• Cooperatives and companies
• Retail and wholesale chains
• Logistic operators
• Supply chain operators
• Service providers
• Central and State Governments entities

How to Avail the Operation Greens Scheme?

Applicants who fulfil the eligibility criteria must submit the online application on the SAMPADA portal.

• Producing the vegetables throughout the year is difficult as not all seasons are favourable for them.
• The number of integrated markets is pretty less in comparison to the amount of production.
• Another challenge is the rising price of fuel, the most used energy in farm technologies.
• Relevant facilities such as transportation, processing and storage are not yet developed accordingly.

Nevertheless, the operation greens scheme is framed to replicate the “operation flood” scheme’s benefits. The Indian Government is aiming to increase farmers’ income by providing them justified crop value through this scheme.