‘PARVAZ’ a market linkage support scheme, Jammu & Kashmir

On July 8, 2021 the Jammu & Kashmir government launched ‘PARVAZ’ a market linkage support scheme. This scheme is mainly launched for shipment of Agriculture and Horticulture perishable products harvested in Jammu & Kashmir through Air cargo. Under this scheme a subsidy will be provided on the air cargo charges inclusive of the airport handling charges for shipments through empaneled airlines. This subsidy amount will be provided by DBT time to time. Currently till August 31, 2021 the reimbursement will be done in the offline mode. This scheme aims at doubling the income of fruit growers and farmers of Jammu & Kashmir thereby ensuring their welfare. This scheme could also be adopted by the Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries departments for milk, fish and other perishables as per the available funds.

Scheme Overview:

Scheme Objectives and Benefits:

• The main objective of this scheme is to provide air cargo service for perishable agriculture and horticulture produce
• This scheme is launched for benefiting the fruit growers and farmers by doubling their income
• It tends to easily transport the perishable produce to domestic as well as international market
• It aims at covering a wider market for the produce harvested locally in Jammu & Kashmir
• This scheme will boost the employment opportunities to the locals
• It aims at increasing the overall income and living of the farmers thereby
• Under the scheme the farmers will get the price of their produce directly in their bank account with no intermediary in between

Scheme Details:

• ‘PARVAZ’ a market linkage support scheme is launched by the Jammu & Kashmir government on July 8, 2021
• This scheme is mainly launched for benefiting the farmers and fruit growers
• It covers the perishable produce of Agriculture and Horticulture sector
• Under this scheme air cargo service will be provided for transporting the perishable agriculture and horticulture produce harvested in Jammu & Kashmir to the domestic and international market.
• The government will provide subsidy on the air cargo charges inclusive of airport handling charges for shipments through one or more empaneled airlines
• This subsidy reimbursement will be made online through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the farmers/ FPOs/ SHGs/ other registered intermediaries as applicable time to time
• Payment will be done based on the original invoices/ bills of the concerned airlines
• Currently till August 31, 2021 the payments will be made through offline mode and afterwards online DBT mode will only be used
• As per the notification released by the government, Rs. 128 per kg have been fixed for shipment from Srinagar to Dubai, Rs. 54 per kg from Srinagar/ Jammu to Sharjah
• Rates for shipment to markets in India have been fixed as – Rs. 29 per kg for Srinagar/ Jammu to Delhi, Rs. 54 per kg from Srinagar/ Jammu to Chennai, Rs. 52 per kg from Srinagar/ Jammu to Kolkata, Rs. 39 per kg from Srinagar/ Jammu to Mumbai/ Pune, Rs. 55 per kg from Srinagar/ Jammu to Bangalore
• These rates include the airport handling charges
• Separate expert committee will be set for identifying the organic/ exotic vegetables under the scheme
• This scheme would create a mechanism for connecting markets to Jammu & Kashmir
• It would enable the fruit and vegetable farmers to earn a good amount of income
• Marketing of produce harvested in Jammu & Kashmir would have a separate impact
• This scheme tends to benefit the farmers by doubling their income thereby ensuring their economic and social welfare