Operation Green

Operation Green is a national initiative aimed at stabilising the supply chain of key horticultural commodities by reducing price volatility, strengthening value-addition processes, and improving market linkages. Initially focused on tomatoes, onions, and potatoes—collectively referred to as TOP crops—the scheme was later expanded to include a wider range of perishable fruits and vegetables. Its primary goal is to ensure fair prices for both farmers and consumers by addressing structural gaps in storage, transport, processing, and market integration.
Designed to promote a more efficient and resilient agricultural marketing system, Operation Green supports interventions that minimise post-harvest losses, enhance cold-chain infrastructure, and foster sustainable producer–market linkages across the country.

Background and Rationale

Indian agriculture, particularly horticultural production, has often been impacted by high seasonal price fluctuations due to supply–demand imbalances, inadequate storage facilities, and fragmented marketing systems. Perishable crops such as tomatoes, onions, and potatoes are especially vulnerable to losses caused by surplus production, limited processing capacity, and transportation challenges.
Operation Green was introduced to address these long-standing issues by targeting the root causes of price instability. It aligns with national objectives to improve farmers’ incomes, modernise agricultural supply chains, and enhance food security through better post-harvest management. The scheme draws inspiration from successful models in other sectors, seeking to replicate structured supply-chain frameworks for horticultural produce.

Objectives of the Scheme

The scheme aims to create a predictable, efficient, and resilient horticultural market ecosystem. Key objectives include:

• Reducing price volatility in perishable commodities through targeted interventions.
• Strengthening cold-chain infrastructure, logistics, and storage facilities.
• Encouraging value-addition through processing and packaging industries.
• Improving market linkages by integrating farmers with organised retail, processors, and export channels.
• Providing policy support to stabilise farm incomes during periods of surplus production.
• Promoting sustainable models of production, aggregation, and distribution.

These objectives collectively aim to protect stakeholders across the supply chain while ensuring stable availability of essential produce.

Components and Approach

Operation Green operates through strategies aimed at both short-term and long-term stabilisation of horticultural markets.
Short-Term Measures:

• Price stabilisation through transportation subsidies.
• Market intervention techniques to move surplus produce from glutted markets to deficit regions.
• Support for temporary storage solutions to moderate sudden price drops.

Long-Term Measures:

• Development of integrated value chains.
• Creation of processing units, cold storages, and ripening chambers.
• Promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to strengthen collective bargaining.
• Encouragement of technological solutions for grading, sorting, and packaging.
• Investment in post-harvest management facilities.

The dual approach ensures immediate relief during market disruption while building structural resilience for the future.

Implementation Structure

Operation Green is implemented through a central framework that coordinates with state agencies, producer organisations, and private stakeholders. Major elements include:

• Central Nodal Agency: Responsible for overall administration, project approval, and monitoring.
• State Departments: Facilitate local coordination, identify strategic clusters, and provide cooperative support.
• FPOs and Cooperatives: Act as primary points of aggregation, enabling efficient handling of produce.
• Private Sector Partnerships: Encouraged to invest in infrastructure, logistics, and processing capacities.
• Cluster-Based Approach: Specific production clusters are selected for targeted development to ensure efficient resource use.

This integrated structure supports seamless coordination across institutional and market-based actors.

Expansion Beyond TOP Crops

While the scheme originally concentrated on tomatoes, onions, and potatoes, the scope was later widened to encompass a broader range of perishable fruits and vegetables. This expansion enables:

• Greater supply-chain resilience across diversified crops.
• Enhanced opportunities for farmers cultivating perishable horticultural produce.
• Reduction of waste for commodities prone to spoilage.

The widened scope reflects the dynamic nature of horticultural markets and the need for comprehensive support across multiple crop categories.

Infrastructure Development and Value Addition

A major focus of Operation Green is the creation and strengthening of post-harvest infrastructure. Key areas include:

• Cold-chain facilities ensuring temperature-controlled storage and transit.
• Integrated processing units enhancing value-addition through dehydration, canning, or freezing.
• Packhouses equipped for cleaning, sorting, and grading.
• Reefer vans and specialised transport reducing spoilage during transit.
• Market intelligence systems providing real-time data on supply, demand, and pricing.

These interventions contribute to reducing post-harvest losses and improving product quality.

Role of Farmer Producer Organisations

FPOs are central to the scheme’s participatory model. Their involvement allows:

• Collective marketing and stronger price negotiation.
• Efficient aggregation of produce.
• Uniform adoption of post-harvest practices.
• Access to credit, insurance, and government support.

The scheme promotes capacity-building programmes to empower FPOs as key stakeholders in modernising the agricultural supply chain.

Impact and Outcomes

Operation Green has contributed to various positive outcomes across horticultural markets, including:

• Enhanced farmer access to organised markets and processors.
• Improved logistics through subsidised transport and better cold-chain support.
• Reduction in wastage during bumper harvest seasons.
• Boost in small-scale processing enterprises in horticulture-rich clusters.
• Increased market stability benefiting both farmers and consumers.

The scheme’s interventions have strengthened the overall efficiency of horticultural supply chains.

Challenges and Constraints

Despite progress, several challenges persist:

• Inadequate awareness among small and marginal farmers.
• Limited availability of cold-chain infrastructure in remote areas.
• High initial investment costs for processing units.
• Fragmentation of horticultural markets across states.
• Need for consistent quality standards across the value chain.