**Executive Summary**
This document contains the answer to Unstarred Question No. 862 in the Lok Sabha, concerning the Krishi UDAN scheme for Tamil Nadu, scheduled to be answered on December 4th, 2025. It provides details on the scheme's objectives, scope, perishable tonnage handled, and integration efforts. The question was raised by Shri Tharaniventhan M S.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Krishi UDAN Scheme Overview**
* Aims to ensure seamless, cost-effective, time-bound air transportation and associated logistics for all Agri-produce.
* Focuses especially on produce originating from the Northeast, hilly and tribal regions.
* Covers 58 airports, with primary focus on 25 airports in the North Eastern, Hilly and Tribal region, besides 33 airports in other regions/areas.
* **Perishable Tonnage Handled in Tamil Nadu (Lakh MT)**
* FY 2022-23: Domestic (0.04), International (0.26), Total (0.30)
* FY 2023-24: Domestic (0.05), International (0.29), Total (0.34)
* FY 2024-25: Domestic (0.07), International (0.28), Total (0.35)
* **Impact Assessment**
* No study on the impact of the scheme on farmers' income, market access, and reduction of post-harvest losses has been undertaken.
* **Scheme Integration & Incentives**
* Krishi Udan is a convergence scheme involving eight Ministries/Departments.
* Waiver of Landing and parking charges provided for Indian freighters and P2C Aircraft by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Ministry of Defence at selected airports.
* Route Navigation Facility Charges (RNFC) and Terminal Navigational Landing Charges (TNLC) are waived at selected AAI airports.
* **Deregulation of Aviation Sector**
* Since the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the decision to operate on any route rests solely with the airlines, based on the route's economic viability.
**Impact Analysis**
**Airlines**
* **Impact:** The Indian aviation sector has been deregulated, so airlines are affected by their right to decide the viability of operation on any route.
* **Action Required:** Need to determine if the routes meet the viability criteria before operating.
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Farmers benefit from improved transportation and logistics, increasing the chances of selling produce on the market before it spoils.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required from the farmers.
**Airports Authority of India (AAI)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for waiving Landing charges, parking charges, Route Navigation Facility Charges (RNFC) and Terminal Navigational Landing Charges (TNLC).
* **Action Required:** Follow the waiver of charges guidelines for Indian freighters and P2C Aircraft at selected airports under the Krishi Udan Scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Krishi UDAN Scheme: A scheme that aims to ensure seamless, cost-effective, time-bound, air transportation and associated logistics for all Agri-produce.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India which is the focus of the Krishi UDAN flights discussed.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The ministry responsible for the Krishi UDAN Scheme.
Airports Authority of India (AAI): An agency responsible for waiving Landing charges and parking charges for Indian freighters and P2C (Passenger-to-Cargo) Aircraft at selected airports under the Krishi Udan Scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 862
th
(To be answered on the 4 December 2025)
KRISHI UDAN FLIGHTS FOR TAMIL NADU
862. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) the total number of Krishi UDAN flights operational during the last three years,
State-wise, particularly for Tamil Nadu;
(b) the volume and types of perishable agricultural produce transported under the
scheme along with the number of farmers benefitted; (c) whether the Government
has evaluated the impact of the scheme on farmers' income, market access and
reduction of post-harvest losses and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the steps taken by the Government to increase awareness and participation of
small and marginal farmers in the scheme; and (e) the measures implemented to
integrate Krishi UDAN with other logistics, cold-chain infrastructure and e-
marketing platforms to ensure timely delivery of agricultural products?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) The Krishi UDAN Scheme aims to ensure seamless, cost-effective, time bound,
air transportation and associated logistics for all Agri-produce originating
especially from the Northeast, hilly and tribal regions of the country. The Scheme
covers 58 airports in the country, primarily focusing on 25 airports in the North
Eastern, Hilly and Tribal region, besides 33 airports in other regions/areas.With the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian aviation sector
has been deregulated. Consequently, the decision to operate on any route rests solely
with the airlines, based on the route's economic viability and other relevant
commercial considerations.
(b) The Perishable Tonnage (Lakh MT) handled in Tamil Nadu are as under :
FY Domestic International Total
2022-23 0.04 0.26 0.30
2023-24 0.05 0.29 0.34
2024-25 0.07 0.28 0.35
(c) No such study has been undertaken
(d) & (e) The Krishi Udan is a convergence scheme of various initiatives byeight
Ministries/Departments, namely the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Department
of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Department of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries,
Department of Commerce, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of
Development of North-Eastern. In order to facilitate and incentivise movement
of agri-produce by air transportation, waiver of Landing charges and parking
charges is provided for Indian freighters and P2C (Passenger-to-Cargo) Aircraft
by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Ministry of Defence at selected
airports under the Krishi Udan Scheme. In addition, Route Navigation Facility
Charges (RNFC) and Terminal Navigational Landing Charges (TNLC) are
waived at the selected AAI airports.
*****