Agriculture Ministry May Take Over TOP Scheme to Support Distressed Tomato, Onion, and Potato Growers

In a bid to alleviate the woes of tomato, onion, and potato (TOP) growers, the Union agriculture ministry is reportedly in talks with the food processing industries ministry to take over the struggling scheme aimed at the integrated development of the TOP value chain. The TOP scheme, initially launched as part of Operation Greens to promote the cultivation of 22 crops, has faced challenges in its implementation, prompting discussions of a potential handover to the agriculture ministry for more effective management.

An anonymous government official revealed that the food processing industries ministry had encountered difficulties in operating the scheme, especially concerning TOP crops. As a result, they are engaging in discussions with the agriculture ministry to transfer the responsibility for its implementation. The agriculture ministry, acknowledging the need for better support to growers, is actively examining the proposition, although the talks are still in the preliminary stage between officials from both ministries.

The market intervention scheme (MIS) currently administered by the agriculture ministry is primarily designed to step in when the market prices of certain commodities, not covered by minimum support prices (MSP), experience a sudden crash. However, there is no existing provision for government procurement at MSP for perishable vegetables like tomatoes, onions, and potatoes.

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Under the potential new arrangement, if approved, the state governments will establish a procurement price at which they will purchase the TOP vegetables directly from farmers, ensuring they receive fair compensation. These horticulture crops are highly perishable, making immediate disposal necessary to prevent losses.

The consumer affairs ministry already operates a similar scheme known as the price stabilization fund (PSF), intervening in the markets of pulses and vegetables, including tomatoes, onions, and potatoes, to control market prices during periods of upward trends.

The plight of horticulture growers has been a growing concern, with many forced to discard their produce when market prices plummet. Recently, in Punjab, capsicum growers were observed dumping their crops due to unviable prices that failed to cover production costs.

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The situation has been no different for tomato and onion farmers in Maharashtra, who, grappling with low prices, decided to switch to other crops, resulting in reduced yields this year. Moreover, supply disruptions from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Karnataka have led to a surge in tomato prices in northern states during June, and they continue to remain significantly high.

With the potential handover of the TOP scheme to the agriculture ministry, distressed growers could receive much-needed relief, akin to the support provided for other crops. The move holds promise in curbing wastage and stabilizing market prices for these essential vegetables.

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