How Centre’s Clean Plant Programme plans to boost production of fruits

How Centre’s Clean Plant Programme plans to boost production of fruits

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Agri

Context:

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aimed at increasing the yield and productivity of horticulture crops in India.
• It also targets to enhance the quality of fruit crops across the nation.
• The Clean Plant Programme is set to significantly boost India’s horticultural sector while aligning with Mission LiFE and the One Health initiatives. It will promote sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices and reduces dependence on imported planting materials. This programme will be a crucial step toward establishing India as a leading global exporter of fruits and driving transformative change across the sector.
• This programme will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board in association with Indican Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

How will the CPP work?

• The programme has three main components geared towards helping farmers obtain virus-free, high-quality planting material:
  1. Development of nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) which will provide disease diagnostics and therapeutics, create mother plants to be sent to nurseries, and quarantine all domestic and imported planting materials intended for commercial propagation and distribution;
  2. Enhancement of infrastructure, including the development of large-scale nurseries to facilitate the efficient multiplication of clean planting material – the mother plants obtained from the CPCs will be multiplied in nurseries and distributed to farmers;
  3. Creation of regulatory and certification process to ensure thorough accountability and traceability in the production and sale of planting material.

Key Benefits of the Clean Plant Programme (CPP):

Farmers: The CPP will provide access to virus-free, high-quality planting material, leading to increased crop yields and improved income opportunities.

Nurseries: Streamlined certification processes and infrastructure support will enable nurseries to efficiently propagate clean planting material, fostering growth and sustainability.

Consumers: The initiative will ensure that consumers benefit from superior produce that is free from viruses, enhancing the taste, appearance, and nutritional value of fruits.

Exports: By producing higher-quality, disease-free fruits, India will strengthen its position as a leading global exporter, expanding market opportunities and increasing its share in the international fruit trade.

The Programme will prioritize affordable access to clean plant material for all farmers, regardless of their landholding size or socioeconomic status.

The Programme will actively engage women farmers in its planning and implementation, ensuring their access to resources, training and decision-making opportunities.

The Programme will address the diverse agro-climatic conditions across India by developing region-specific clean plant varieties and technologies.

What is the need for the CPP?

• India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China.

• India is also a major importer and exporter of fresh fruits. In the financial year 2023-24, India exported fresh fruits worth $1.15 billion, while it imported fruits worth $2.73 billion.
• With the rising consumption of fruits in the country, demand has specifically increased for planting materials of foreign apples, and “exotics” such as avocado and blueberry.
• At present, the process of importing plants is very cumbersome, with imported plants having to be kept in quarantine for two years.
• The CPCs will cut this period down to six months, and thus make it easier for farmers to access disease free and genuine planting material for horticultural crops in India.