Krishi UDAN 2.0

• 28 Oct 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation has released Krishi Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) 2.0 to facilitate movement of agricultural produce by air.

• It lays out the vision of improving value realization through better integration and optimization of agri-harvesting and air transportation and contributing to agri-value chain sustainability and resilience under different and dynamic conditions.
• Earlier, ahead of UDAN Day (21^st October), the Ministry of Civil Aviation flagged off 6 routes, expanding the aerial connectivity of North-East India, under the UDAN Scheme.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • Krishi UDAN was launched in August 2020, on international and national routes to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products so that it improves their value realisation.
  • Krishi UDAN 2.0 will focus on transporting perishable food products from the hilly areas, northeastern states and tribal areas.
  • It will be implemented at 53 airports across the country mainly focusing on northeast and tribal regions and is likely to benefit farmers, freight forwarders and airlines.
    
    • Opted airports not only provide access to regional domestic markets but also connect them to international gateways of the country.
• Main Features:
  
  • Waiver:
    
    • Facilitate and incentivize movement of agri-produce by air transportation by giving a full waiver of landing, parking, Terminal Navigation and Landing Charges and Route Navigation Facilities Charges for domestic airlines.
  • Hub and Spoke Model:
    
    • Strengthen Cargo related infrastructure at airports and off airports by facilitating the development of a hub and spoke model and a freight grid.
      
      • The hub and spoke model refers to a distribution method in which a centralized "hub" exists.
  • Resource Pooling:
    
    • Resources-Pooling through establishing a convergence mechanism i.e. collaboration with other government departments and regulatory bodies.
      
      • It will provide freight forwarders, airlines and other stakeholders with Incentives and concessions to enhance air transportation of Agri-produce.
  • E-KUSHAL:
    
    • An online platform named E-KUSHAL (Krishi Udaan for Sustainable Holistic Agri-Logistics) would also be developed to facilitate information dissemination to all stakeholders regarding the transportation of agricultural produce.
    • The ministry has also proposed convergence of E-KUSHAL with the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM).
• Expected Benefits:
  
  • New Avenues of Growth for Agriculture:
    
    • This scheme will open up new avenues of growth for the agriculture sector and help attain the goal of doubling farmers' income by removing barriers in supply chain, logistics and transportation of farm produce.
  • Decrease Food Wastes:
    
    • It will help solve the problem of wastage of agricultural food wastes in the country.
• Other Initiatives Related to Farmers:
  
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
  • Green India Mission
  • Soil Health Card (SHC)
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
  • Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
  • Sub-mission on AgroForestry (SMAF)
  • Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER).

Convergence of Agriculture and Aviation

• The convergence between the two sectors (A2A – Agriculture to Aviation) is possible because of three primary reasons:
  
  • Evolutionary possible use of biofuel for aircraft in future
  • Use of drones in the agriculture sector
  • Due to greater integration and value realisation of agricultural products through schemes like Krishi UDAN.

Source: PIB