Food processing ministry begins work on Operation Greens

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has started consultations with stakeholders to determine the contours of Operation Greens, under which Rs 500 crore has been earmarked in this budget, with a focus on preventing distress sale by tomato, potato and onion farmers.

The ministry added that post World Food Fair held in 2017, foreign direct investment in the sector was flowing in at a fast pace. Pacts worth $14-billion were signed at the event and of this, projects worth close to $4 billion had started ground work, said minister for food processing industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal while addressing a press conference.

“I will be holding a meeting on February 20 with the stakeholders from states that have been identified as the leading producers of tomato, onion and potato crops,” she added. “We want to ensure that prices of these commodities are not volatile and are available throughout the year.”


The government is looking at creating infrastructure for natural preservation of these crops and promoting the Farmers Producers Organization (FPO), agri logistics processing facilities and professional management.