AP Govt to launch ‘Operations Greens’ to help tomato farmers get fair price

AP Govt to launch ‘Operations Greens’ to help tomato farmers get a fair price

Every year, high volatility in tomato prices has resulted in significant losses for producers. Farmers end up discarding tomatoes on the roadside as prices fluctuate from ₹1 per kg to ₹60 and more.

To remedy the issue, the Andhra Pradesh government has enlisted the services of Lawrencedale Agro Processing India (LEAF) to launch ‘Operations Greens,’ which will enable lakhs of tomato farmers to get a fair price.

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The initiative intends to build an integrated tomato value chain in the tomato-growing areas of Chittoor, Anantapur, and YSR Kadapa. It would involve various stakeholders and cover the entire range from manufacturing centres to consumption sites.

As part of the project, the Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society (APFPS) will collaborate with LEAF to develop the value chain.

The National Agricultural Corporation Marketing Federation Limited (Nafed) will serve as a coordinating organisation for the implementation of price stability measures.

‘The agreement with LEAF would be critical in bringing value to farmers in Andhra Pradesh.’ ‘LEAF and APFPS will collaborate with the non-governmental organisation APMAS to promote farmer producer organisations (FPOs),’ said Kakani Govardhan Reddy, Minister of Agriculture, Cooperation, Marketing, and Food Processing in Andhra Pradesh.

The three organisations would also assist farmers in reducing post-harvest losses, expanding processing capacities, and improving marketing links and intelligence.

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‘The APFPS will facilitate access to scheme funding from state and central governments, as well as assistance in meeting qualifying criteria and providing guarantees,’ stated a LEAF statement on Thursday.

‘Operation Greens aims to provide predictability to marginalised farmers,’ said Palat Vijayaraghavan, Founder and CEO of Lawrencedale Agro Processing India.