Daily Current Affairs 06.11.2018: Operation "Greens"

Overview: 

Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI) has approved the operationalisation strategy for Operation Greens. 

The Strategy will comprise of a series of measures as decided by the Ministry:

Short term Price Stabilisation Measures:

• NAFED will be the Nodal Agency to implement price stabilisation measures.
• MoFPI will provide 50 percent of the subsidy on transportation of Tomato Onion Potato (TOP) Crops from production to storage; and hiring of appropriate storage facilities for TOP Crops. 

Long Term Integrated value chain development projects:

• Capacity Building of FPOs & their consortium.
• Quality production.
• Post-harvest processing facilities.
• Agri-Logistics.
• Marketing / Consumption Points.
• Creation and Management of e-platform for demand and supply management of TOP Crops. 

Know Operation Greens:

Operation Greens was announced in the Budget speech of 2018-19 with an outlay of Rs 500 crores to stabilize the supply of Tomato, Onion and Potato(TOP) crops and to ensure availability of TOP crops throughout the country round the year without price volatility. 

Major objectives of “Operation Greens” are as under:

• Enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers by targeted interventions to strengthen TOP production clusters and their FPOs, and linking/connecting them with the market.
• Price stabilisation for producers and consumers by proper production planning in the TOP clusters and introduction of dual use varieties.
• Reduction in post-harvest losses by creation of farm gate infrastructure, development of suitable agro-logistics, creation of appropriate storage capacity linking consumption centres.
• Increase in food processing capacities and value addition in TOP value chain with firm linkages with production clusters.
• Setting up of a market intelligence network to collect and collate real time data on demand and supply and price of TOP crops. 

Importance of Operation greens:

Operation Green (OG) wants to replicate the success story of Operation Flood, in fruits and vegetables, starting with three basic vegetables—tomatoes, onions and potatoes (TOP). The main objective of OG is to reduce price volatility in these commodities, and thereby helping farmers augment incomes on a sustainable basis, as also provide these basic vegetables to consumers at affordable prices. 

Sources: pib.