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New Delhi : Indian Railways, with its pan-India network, forms an integral part of the government plan to raise incomes in farm sector by encouraging transportation by rail. Introduction of Kisan Rails have given farmers wide access of Indian markets. Kisan Rail have so far carried 2.7 lakh tonnes of consignment. Till now, 60 routes have been operationalised.
Railways have been relentlessly pursuing with various stakeholders including Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, state governments (including departments of agriculture/ horticulture/ fisheries, etc), and local bodies and agencies, Mandis etc, to plan rollout of Kisan Rail services, according to a PIB release.
Salient features of Kisan Rail:
• Enables movement of perishables including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fishery and dairy products from production or surplus regions to consumption or deficient regions;
• Speedy movement ensures minimum damage during transit;
• Enables farmers to utilise the vast railway network to gain access to distant, bigger, and more lucrative markets;
• 50 percent subsidy is given in freight (being borne by Ministry of Food Processing Industries under ‘Operation Greens – TOP to Total’ scheme) for transportation of fruits and vegetables;
• Based on the concept of multi commodity, multi consignor, multi consignee, multi stoppages, time-tabled trains – to help small farmers with lesser produce also to transport their consignment without any middleman;
• No minimum limit on quantity that can be booked, enabling even small and marginal farmers to reach bigger and distant markets;
• End-consumers (at bigger cities and consumption centers) get fresher produce at cheaper prices, due to reduction in transportation time as well as costs.
The first train under Kisan Rail scheme – between Devlali (Maha) and Danapur (Bihar) – was flagged-off by Railways and Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on August 7, 2020. This train has subsequently been extended to run between Sangola (Maha) and Muzaffarpur (Bihar).
The 100th trip under Kisan Rail scheme – between Sangola (Maha) and Shalimar (WB) – was flagged-off by the Prime Minister on 28th December 28, 2020.
Till June 18, 2021, a total of 850 trips of Kisan Rail trains were operated on 60 routes, transporting more than 2.7 lakh Tonnes of consignments.
Kisan Rail trains are run on time-tabled paths, and are being monitored for punctuality as well as to ensure that perishable commodities reach their destinations within due time, and also that Indian Railways’ resources are utilised in the most optimal manner. Main crops/farm-produce transported via Kisan Rail train include oranges, onion, potato, banana, mango, tomato, pomegranate, custard apple, capsicum, chikoo, carrot, etc
Pricing and Subsidy: All the Kisan Rail train services are being charged at ‘P-scale’ of Parcel tariff.
Under ‘Operation Greens – TOP to Total’ scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), 50% subsidy in freight is granted on transportation of fruits and vegetables through Kisan Rail trains services.
Since the introduction of this subsidy scheme (with effect from October 14, 2020) till June 15,2021, an amount of Rs 52.38 crore approx has been disbursed as subsidy through Kisan Rail.