Centre to give 50 percent subsidy for farm produced perishable storage and transportation

The Centre acknowledged and identified that supply chains have been disrupted due to the coronavirus induced lockdown, due to which farmers are not being able to sell their produce at fair prices.

This is resulting in distress sale and greatly reducing the price of perishable items including fruits and vegetables.

On 15th May, providing more details of Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that “Operation Greens” would now be extended from tomatoes, onions, and potatoes (Top) to all fruits and vegetables. The `500 crore ‘Top to Total’ scheme aims to repair broken supply chains in India.

The centre said to have introduced the scheme so as to avoid any such situations, and that it will provide 50 percent subsidy on transportation from surplus to deficit markets and 50 percent subsidy on storage, including cold storage. The scheme is said to be implemented on pilot basis for a period of six-months, which may be subjected to change or extend further.

Sitharaman further mentioned that the scheme won’t just benefit the farmers in attracting better prices for their farm produce but it will further minimise the amount of perishable wastages that may happen in the due course.