Indian agriculture since its inception has faced a lot of challenges and shortcomings that have been solved with time. The current issues that a farmer might face in practicing agriculture are availability of credit, high prices of inputs, resource management, price fluctuation, storage and transportation of the farm produce. However, all these problems are worth giving attention but the transportation part is what has been lagging for quite a bit of time. Considering the perishable nature of agricultural commodities and the poor conditions of connectivity of rural areas with the urban areas, this becomes even more important. To address this issue, Indian Railways in 2020 had launched Kisan Rail about which we’ll talk in detail.
KISAN RAIL IN BRIEF
Indian Railways had launched Kisan Rail with a motive to encourage the villagers and farmers. Kisan Rail will ensure that agricultural commodities reach from one corner to another corner of the country. Under the Indian Railway’s Kisan Rail Project, potential circuits for movement of vegetables, fruits, and other perishable are being identified in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the state departments of the same. This is a multi-commodity, multi-consignor/consignee, multi-loading/unloading transportation product designed to give Kisan or the farmer a wider market. The major goal of operating trains under the Kisan Rail Service is to boost farm income by connecting production centres to markets and consuming hubs. The Kisan Rail Service was an effort by the government to link railways and agriculture to its advantage. India’s first ‘Kisan Rail’ ran between Devlali in Maharashtra’s Nashik at 11 am today to reach Danapur in Bihar at 6.45 pm.
WHY IN NEWS?
The Indian railways have taken a number of efforts to aid parcel service for farmers and small business owners, providing a subsidy for transportation via the Kisan Rail Trains, a discount on bulk parcel space booking in advance, and so on. Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) CPRO Guneet Kaur announced this in a news statement on Friday. According to the statement, the ‘Operation Greens – TOP to Total’ initiative provides a 50% freight rate discount for the shipment of fruits and vegetables. Several trains, including Alipurduar junction – Delhi express special, Agartala- Ananvishar Terminal Tejas express special, and others, have already been available for leasing of round trip Parcel Vans to improve parcel earnings, it added. Railways offer a discount incentive to transporters who book bulk parcel space in advance in order to encourage prior booking in bigger numbers. If the booked space is greater than the leased parcel space at the highest lease rates, the discount will be applied.
Source- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare 
Source- Ministry of Railways
SALIENT FEATURES
1. This is multi-commodity, multi-consignor/consignee, multi-loading/unloading transportation product which is aimed at providing wider market to Kisan.
2. The first Kisan Rail train was flagged-off on 07.08.2020 between Devlali (Maharashtra) and Danapur (Bihar).
3. The Kisan Rail trains are run on time-tabled paths, and their punctuality is strictly monitored to avoid any en-route detentions and delays.
4. Enables movement of perishables including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fishery and dairy products from production or surplus regions to consumption or deficient regions.
5. 50 percent subsidy is given in freight (being borne by Ministry of Food Processing Industries under ‘Operation Greens – TOP to Total’ scheme) for transportation of fruits and vegetables.
6. No minimum limit on quantity that can be booked, enabling even small and marginal farmers to reach bigger and distant markets.
7. As of June 2021, there are 60 routes at which Kisan Rail is being operated and there are more routes lined to be launched.
Source- Twitter Handle of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare 
Source- Current Affairs 
Source- TNPSC Thervu Pettagam
AUTHOR’S OPINION
These trains are a step towards fulfilling the goal of doubling farmer’s incomes by 2022. Indian Railways aims to help double farmer’s income with the launch of Kisan Rail. Considering the well developed and connected rail network in the country this initiative from the government is praiseworthy and works in harmony with the government’s decision of opening of nationwide markets for farmers. Initiatives like these provide farmers with financial as well as psychological security as Indian railways is still believed to be the most safe and economical means of travel in India. Connecting the supply areas with the demand markets must be ensured and the government should look forward to expand the network of trains in order to bridge the gap between the rural and urban markets. If you want to know about the current routes of operation of Kisan rail follow this link.