Kisan Rail transported 5,98,033 tonnes of agricultural produce last year, according to data from the Ministry of Railways. Maharashtra transported 76% of the produce. Oranges, onion, potato, banana, mango, tomato, guava, pomegranate, custard apple, capsicum, chikoo, carrot, garlic, and other commodities are transported by Kisan Rail.
In consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and state governments, potential circuits for the movement of vegetables, fruits, and other perishables were identified.
Local governments, agencies, and mandis were all involved in the process. Rakes are prioritized for the operation of Kisan Rail services based on demand.
"This service has really helped farmers across the State, and the move by the union government came as a huge relief, especially when lockdowns were imposed in some areas due to an increase in Covid-19 patients," farmer Baba Sawat said.
"Kisan Rail trains are operated as part of parcel services, and operational costs exceed revenue from these services." The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has allocated 50 crore as a subsidy for the transportation of fruits and vegetables via Kisan Rail in the current fiscal year. However, the Railways Ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that "98 crore has already been disbursed as subsidy up to January 15."
About Kisan Rail:
Kisan Rail, which transports fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers to markets across India, launched on August 7, 2020. The agreement was that while farmers would be able to transport their produce at half-price, the Railways would receive the MoFPI subsidy.
How many Kisan Rails are there in India?
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Indian Railways has operated approximately 1,642 Kisan Rails between the launch of the first Kisan Rail service and November 28, 2021. Maharashtra is home to 1,239 of these services.
