Clean Plant Programme 2024: Boosting Yields and Export Competitiveness in Horticulture
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Institution: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
The Union Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) with an investment of βΉ1,765.67 crore under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture. The programme aims to provide farmers with virus-free, high-quality planting material, enhancing fruit crop yields, farmer incomes, and Indiaβs global competitiveness in horticulture.
Nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) will be established across India for grapes, citrus, mango, guava, apple, pomegranate, temperate, and tropical fruits. These state-of-the-art hubs will house tissue culture labs and advanced diagnostics to maintain clean planting stocks. A robust certification system under the Seeds Act, 1966 will ensure traceability and accountability, while nurseries will receive infrastructure support to scale up propagation.
The programme will deliver multiple benefits: higher yields and incomes for farmers, streamlined certification for nurseries, virus-free produce for consumers, and improved export quality. It emphasizes affordability, participation of women farmers, and development of region-specific clean varieties.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can clean plant programmes be scaled to balance affordability, inclusivity, and global market competitiveness?
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https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2043922