Parliament Question: Operation Greens Scheme in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2035 ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY, 2025 OPERATION GREENS SCHEME IN WEST BENGAL

2035. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

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

(a) the current status of the implementation of the Operation Greens Scheme in West Bengal particularly focusing on long-term interventions aimed at stabilizing the supply and prices of Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) crops;

(b) the specific measures taken thereunder to benefit potato farmers in West Bengal including the establishment of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), development of agri- logistics and creation of processing facilities;

(c) the total funds allocated and disbursed to West Bengal under the said scheme since its inception; and

(d) the challenges faced in the implementation of this scheme in West Bengal particularly concerning infrastructure development, farmer participation and funds utilization along with the steps taken by the Government to address these challenges? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a) to (d): Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing a central sector umbrella scheme called “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)” since 2017-18 across the country. The scheme is demand driven in nature and the proposals under the scheme are invited through Expression of Interest (EOI). Under the Operation Greens component of PMKSY scheme, the Ministry is providing financial assistance for value chain development of 10 fruit crops, 11 vegetable crops and shrimp in the identified production clusters. The production clusters for these crops are identified based on the horticultural production data provided by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in consultation with the Horticulture Departments of the respective states. Based on the criteria, the Ministry has already identified West Bengal as production cluster for Pineapple, Tomato, Potato, Beans, Gourd Family, Carrot, Cauliflower, Okra and Ginger crops. Any entity including Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), willing to setup processing facilities and development of agri- logistics for these crops in the identified production clusters may submit their proposal against the EOI floated by Ministry from time to time.

So far, under Operation Greens long-term intervention scheme, the Ministry has not approved any project in the West Bengal. *****