Parliament Question: Integrated Value Chain Development Projects

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: *546 ANSWERED ON 02ND APRIL, 2026 INTEGRATED VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS *546. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

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

(a) the current status of Integrated Value Chain Development Projects with regard to expansion beyond the original ‘TOP’ (Tomato, Onion and Potato) crops under ‘Operation Greens’, particularly in areas with high production of these crops such as Narsinghpur and Narmadapuram under Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency in Madhya Pradesh;

(b) the extent of effectiveness of the “Market Intelligence Network” in forecasting price volatility and initiating short-term interventions like arrangements for transportation and providing storage subsidies;

(c) whether the said measures have supported farmers to secure better prices for their crops and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the number of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) directly connected to processing centres or organised marketing networks with the objective of minimizing the role of intermediaries and providing farmers with better market access under the said scheme so far; and

(e) whether any such initiatives are also being implemented in Narsinghpur and Narmadapuram districts under Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*546 FOR ANSWER ON 02ND APRIL 2026 REGARDING “INTEGRATED VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS”.

(a) In the budget speech of Union Budget 2018-19, the Scheme “Operation Greens” was announced on the lines of “Operation Flood”, with an outlay of ₹500 crore to promote Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management. Accordingly, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries formulated a scheme for development of value chains for Tomatoes, Onions and Potatoes (TOP). Further, in the budget speech of Union Budget 2021-22, the scope of long-term strategy i.e. Integrated Value Chain Development Projects & Standalone Post-Harvest Infrastructure Projects under the Operation Greens Scheme originally applicable to Tomatoes, Onions and Potatoes (TOP) was extended to 22 perishable crops.

Under Scheme for Operation Greens-Long Term Interventions, Ministry is providing financial assistance at the rate of 35% of the eligible project cost for projects in General Areas, and 50% for projects in Difficult Areas, as well as for projects from SC/ST promoters, FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations), and SHGs (Self-Help Groups) for value chain development of 10 fruit crops, 11 vegetable crops and shrimp in the identified production clusters with maximum eligible grant-in-aid of ₹15 crore per project. The production clusters for these crops are identified based on the horticultural production data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in consultation with the Horticulture Departments of the respective states. The Operation Greens scheme is demand driven in nature where the proposals under the scheme are invited through Expression of Interest (EOI) from time to time.

The Ministry has approved 15 Integrated Value Chain Development projects under the scheme. Out of this 1 project has been approved in the Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh. This project is operational and has benefitted about 2000 farmers in the area. Dhar district has been identified as production cluster for Guava, Gourds, Ginger, Garlic and Narsinghpur has been identified as production cluster for Green Peas.

However, Narmadapuram is not an identified cluster for any fruit or vegetable crop. The Ministry has not received any proposal under Operation Greens - Long Term Interventions Scheme from Narsinghpur and Narmadapuram districts falling under Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency of Madhya Pradesh.

Therefore, the question of sanction of projects therein does not arise. Status of Integrated Value Chain Development projects approved under Operation Greens scheme is at Annexure I.

(b) & (c) Under short term interventions of Operation Greens scheme, the Ministry was providing transportation/ storage subsidy for eligible crops @50% of eligible cost. Storage subsidy was payable for a maximum period of 3 months. The subsidy under short term interventions was disbursed only if price of the relevant crop notified by the Ministry in the Eligible Production Clusters fell below the trigger price of the respective crop. Year-wise details of subsidy released and quantity transported / stored under Short term interventions are given at Annexure –II. Moreover, the short term intervention component of the Operation Greens Scheme which was dealing with transportation & storage subsidy has been transferred to Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) since 2023-24. Further, no such study has been conducted by Ministry to assess the effectiveness of the "Market Intelligence Network" in predicting price volatility and initiating short-term interventions like transportation and storage subsidies.

(d) & (e) Through integrated value chain development projects, 45 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been linked to the processing hubs under the Operation Greens scheme. Out of this one FPO has been linked to the processing hub set up in Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh under Operation Greens scheme.

The Ministry has not received any proposal from Narsinghpur and Narmadapuram districts falling under Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency of Madhya Pradesh under Operation Greens - Long Term Interventions Scheme. Therefore, the question of linking of any FPO from these districts to such processing hub does not arise.

*****ANNEXURE I ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*546 FOR ANSWER ON 02ND APRIL, 2026 REGARDING “INTEGRATED VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS”.

State-wise status of Integrated Value Chain Development projects approved under Operation

Greens Scheme under PMKSY is as under:

Name of Number No. of No. of Total Approved Released No. of State of ongoin comple Project Grants- Grants- farmers approved g ted Cost (₹ in in-Aid (₹ in-Aid benefitted Projects project project Crore) in Crore (₹in s s Crore) Andhra 5 3 2 275.22 79.31 38.95 68850 Pradesh Assam 1 1 0 28.53 7.40 2.47 1800 Gujarat 4 1 3 303.63 70.55 50.24 15030 Madhya 1 0 1 36.70 14.70 14.70 2000 Pradesh Maharashtra 2 0 2 67.30 25.17 21.89 7800 Tamil Nadu 2 1 1 40.00 19.76 18.14 1200 Total 15 6 9 751.38 216.89 146.39 96680 *****ANNEXURE II ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (b) & (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*546 FOR ANSWER ON 02ND APRIL 2026 REGARDING “INTEGRATED VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS”.

A. Year-wise details of subsidy released under Operation Greens Short term interventions: [in ₹ crore] Financial Year Kisan Rail Subsidy (Short Total Term) 2020-21 23.33 1.59 24.92 2021-22 54.46 3.74 58.21 2022-23 0 29.99 29.99 2023-24 0 80.07 80.07 2024-25 0 3.65 3.65 Total 77.79 119.04 196.83 B. Year-wise details of quantity of fruits and vegetables transported/ stored under Short term

interventions:

Financial Year Transported Stored (MT) Total (MT)

(MT) 2020-21 175653 1335 176988 2021-22 580835 9534 590369 2022-23 93344 197989 291333 2023-24 70782 696275 767057 2024-25 1846 40067 41913 Total 922460 945200 1867660 C. Year-wise details of farmers benefitted under Short term interventions:

Financial Year Numbers 2020-21 358 2021-22 829 2022-23 7984 2023-24 21044 2024-25 1149 Total 31364 *****