Clean Plant Programme

Prelims: Agricultural development |Current events of national and international importance

Why in news?

Recently the Union Government launched the ‘Clean Plant Programme’ during India’s first international Agri Hackathon held in Pune.

International Agri Hackathon 2025 will bring together stakeholders from industries and govt, along with young innovators, startups and researchers to develop new, fast and economical solutions to tackle pressing agricultural challenges.

• Clean Plant Program (CPP) – It is a program to address critical issues in horticulture by providing access to high-quality, virus free planting material.
• Objective – To provide disease-free horticultural plants to farmers across India, enhancing quality and productivity in the horticulture sector.
• Nodal Ministry – Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Launch – It was first announced in Union Finance interim Budget speech in February 2023 and approved by the cabinet in August 2024.
• It is developed under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
• Pan-India implementation – A total of 9 Clean Plant Programmes (CPC) will be initiated across the country.

• Nursery support – Modern nurseries will be set up alongside Clean Plant Centres with financial support of,
  • Rs 3 crore for large nurseries
  • Rs 5 crore for medium-sized nurseries
• These nurseries will produce 8 crore disease-free seedlings annually.
• Global collaboration – The Centre plans to collaborate with countries like Israel and the Netherlands for technological support and innovation.
• Bridging science and farming – Lab to Land Initiative-
  to bring scientific research directly to farmers.
• Around 16,000 scientists across India will engage directly with farmers to ensure timely dissemination of innovations in seed quality, productivity, and disease management.

Significance

• Increased crop yields by providing virus-free planting material.
• Enhanced income opportunities to farmers from higher quality fruits.
• Improved nurseries to cater need of the farmers.
• Global market strengthening with access to disease-free, high-quality fruits.
• Reduced dependence on imports by reducing reliance on imported planting materials.

Reference

Hindustan Times | Centre launches Clean Plant Programme