Kisan Rail – a game-changer for small, medium farmers in Telangana

Hyderabad: In the face of rising challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Railways continues to provide support to the agricultural sector. Monday saw the 25th Kisan Rail being flagged off from Jagityal in Telangana to Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi. The train was loaded with 585 tonnes of export quality mangoes for which Jagityal is famous.

Kisan Rail first started its journey from the state on 8 February, 2021. Before Kisan Rail, traders, cargo aggregators, and farmers transported the fruits through road to different parts of the county, which was an expensive and time taking process and also posed a risk of damage or theft.

In a short span of 42 days, the efforts of the officials involved has cumulated in the 25th Kisan Rail from Lingampet, Jagityal. So far, around 13,590 tonnes of load has been transported in the freight trains earning a revenue of Rs 5.50 crores to the government, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction of Kisan Rail by the Indian Railways along with 50 percent concession on the tariff by the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries under the scheme 'Operation Greens - TOP to Total' was extensively publicised by the newly formed Business Development Unit (BDU) team of Secunderabad Division across all segments of freight customers including traders, cargo operators, bulk transporters and farmers in and around Jagityal region. The BDU explained to the freight customers about various schemes and concessions being offered by the Railways for using this special train.

Kisan Rail is proving to be game-changer for boosting rural economy by providing faster and timely transportation of horticultural produce. These trains are immensely helping the farming sector finding new avenues for marketing their farming produce across the country.

It provides a smooth, hassle-free, and economical transportation facility for the farmers, traders, and cargo operators with minimum damage to the goods. Traders and farmers with small and medium quantities of commodities are also finding the trains helpful due to the 23 tonne-capacity of some of the cargo holds.

Gajanan Mallya, general manager, South Central Railways expressed his happiness on loading the 25th Kisan Rail from Lingampet, Jagityal to New Delhi. He complimented the efforts of the Secunderabad Division Team and advised the freight customers to utilise the Kisan Rail facility for transportation of their farming produce at concessional tariffs.