Context: Recently, the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $98 million loan to support the Building India’s Clean Plant Programme.

Aims and Objectives

• The $98 million loan focuses on improving horticulture crop farmers’ access to certified disease-free planting materials.

• The primary aim is to boost the yield, quality, and resilience of crops, particularly in response to the impacts of climate change.

About the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

• Genesis: Approved under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). 

• MIDH is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, etc.

• Purpose: Provide farmers access to virus-free, high-quality planting material, leading to increased crop yields.

Key Components 

• 9 world class state-of-the-art Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture labs.

• Certification Framework, supported by a regulatory framework under the Seeds Act 1966.

• Support for large-scale nurseries for the development of infrastructure. 

• Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

• It will be implemented from 2024 to 2030 with 50% assistance from ADB. 

Other Key Initiatives for Horticulture Sector 

• Coordinated programme on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geoinformatics (CHAMAN), develop and firm up scientific methodology for estimation of area and production under horticulture crops.

• Kisan Rail services, for transporting perishables including fruits and vegetables.

• Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme by NHB, etc. 

India’s horticulture sector at a glance

• Contributes about 33% of the gross value to the agricultural GDP and covers 18% of agricultural land.

• Contributes over Rs. 4 lakh crore annually in agricultural exports.

• India is the second-largest producer of vegetables and fruits in the world (Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO))