On March 29, 2023, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament about the progress of Kisan Rail services. Since its launch on August 7, 2020, Indian Railways has operated approximately 2,364 Kisan Rail services across 167 routes up to March 1, 2023. The government provided a subsidy of Rs 4 crore during this period to support the initiative.

To encourage the transportation of fruits and vegetables through Kisan Rail, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) offered a 50% freight subsidy during the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22. The railways disbursed Rs 27.79 crore and Rs 121.86 crore respectively in these years, with MoFPI reimbursing Rs 50 crore in the latter year. However, the MoFPI discontinued the subsidy from April 1, 2022.

Despite the end of the subsidy, the railways continued to provide partial support. Between April 1, 2022, and March 1, 2023, a 45% subsidy amounting to approximately Rs 4 crore was disbursed by the railways.

Questions now arise regarding the reasons behind the project's apparent demise. Experts point to a lack of groundwork before launch. India's agricultural transportation system is heavily reliant on roads, with diverse vehicles used to move produce from farms to markets. This established network offered several advantages, including careful handling of perishable goods to minimize damage.

Kisan Rail aimed to establish a national railway network for agricultural products, enabling efficient and cost-effective transportation across the country. For instance, fruits from Maharashtra could reach distant markets like Bihar or Bengal.

However, critics argue that the scheme lacked proper stakeholder engagement. Farmers, crucial to the project's success, were not adequately consulted. Ideally, the government should have collaborated with farmer associations and cooperatives to ensure the initiative's long-term viability.

Furthermore, concerns exist regarding the lack of market development before launch. Engaging with agricultural traders and cooperatives beforehand could have secured a guaranteed minimum volume of goods, ensuring the trains ran consistently.

The reliance on subsidies for operation is another point of contention. A successful Kisan Rail would have ideally achieved commercial viability. This could have been achieved through collaboration with all stakeholders, similar to how private companies function.

The project's structure also raises eyebrows. Critics argue it resembled a bureaucratic setup with subsidies as the primary focus. Additionally, the financial investment seems minimal, with reports suggesting the government spent only around 50 crore rupees over two years.

The Kisan Rail's failure poses a significant setback for efforts to modernize agricultural transportation in India. Overdependence on road transport has limitations, potentially impacting food security. A diverse transportation network is crucial.

Moving forward, a thorough examination of Kisan Rail's shortcomings is necessary. A committee of experts could analyze the experiment and recommend a more efficient implementation strategy.

Government program failures can have a chilling effect on future initiatives. Public confidence wanes, making individuals hesitant to embrace new ideas.

The success of any program hinges on thorough preparation. As the Kisan Rail case demonstrates, proper groundwork is essential for a smooth launch and long-term sustainability.

Similarly, Krishi UDAN is a government initiative launched in August 2020 to improve the transportation of agricultural products through air transport. This scheme was planned to benefit farmers by providing seamless, affordable, and timely air transportation for their produce, especially from Northeast, hilly, and tribal regions. By doing so, the scheme sought to increase the value farmers receive for their products.

In October 2021, Krishi UDAN 2.0 was introduced with a specific focus on perishable food products from hilly areas, northeastern states, and tribal regions. This phase emphasized integrating agriculture and air transport, ensuring sustainability in the agricultural value chain, and encouraging air transportation of agricultural produce through incentives. The scheme was expected to expand market access for farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, improve prices, and promote agricultural exports. Overall, Krishi UDAN aimed to transform the agricultural sector and empower farmers nationwide by leveraging air transportation.

However, there is little information available in the public domain on how this scheme is performing. Both news reports and government communications are conspicuous by their absence on these two key initiatives targeted to augment the transportation of perishable agricultural products in the country. (IPA Service)