Clean Plant Programme

Why in news?

The Union Cabinet recently has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

What is Clean Plant Program?

Clean Plant Program (CPP) – It is a program to address critical issues in horticulture by providing access to high-quality, virus free planting material.
Launch – It was first announced in Union Finance interim Budget speech in February 2023.
Aim – It aims to increase the yield and productivity of horticulture crops in India and to enhance the quality of fruit crops across the nation.

Horticulture consist of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, spices mushroom, medicinal and aromatic plants. India is the 2nd largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China.

Nodal Ministry - Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Finances - Budget allocation under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Integration with MIDH - The CPP complements with the ongoing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
Implementation – It will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Core components
- Development of nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs)
- Enhancement of infrastructure
- Creation of regulatory and certification process

CleanPlantProgramme

Clean Plant Centers
The CPCs will be established in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for specific horticulture crops. Each CPC will be linked to a different ICAR institute.
CPC Location	Crop	Linked ICAR Institute
Pune, Maharastra	Grapes	National Research Center for Grapes, Pune,
Bikaner, Rajasthan	Citrus fruits	Central Institute of Arid Horticulture, Bikaner.
Nagpur , Maharastra	Citrus fruits	Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur.
Solapur, Maharastra	Pomegranate	National Research Center on Pomegranate – Solapur.
Bengaluru, Karnataka	Mango, Guava, Dragon Fruit and Avocado	Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru.
Srinagar , Jammu and Kashmir	Temperate Fruits - Apple, Almond, Walnuts, etc.	Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Srinagar
Mukteshwar, Uttarkhand	Temperate Fruits - Apple, Almond, Walnuts, etc.	Regional Station of CITH, Mukteshwar.
East India	Tropical and Subtropical Plants	East India Horticulture center in West Bengal and Jharkhand.
Lucknow	Mango, Guava, Litchi	Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture , Lucknow.

What are the benefits of CPP?

Benefits of CPP
Farmers	Increased Crop Yields - By providing virus-free, superior planting material, it aims to boost crop yields. Enhanced Income Opportunities - Higher quality produce will lead to better market prices and income for farmers
Nurseries	Propagation – Streamlined certification processes and infrastructure support will help nurseries in efficiently producing clean planting material. Sustainability – Improved facilities will foster growth and sustainability in the nursery sector
Consumers	Superior Produce – It ensures that consumers receive virus-free fruits but also enhanced in taste, appearance, and nutritional value. Affordable Cost – Iwill significantly reduce the cost of fruits by increasing the production.
Exports	Global Market Strengthening – With higher-quality, disease-free fruits, India will enhance its position as a leading global exporter. Thereby expanding market opportunities and increasing its share in the international fruit trade.
Inclusion	Farmers – It aims to provide affordable access to clean plant material for all farmers, regardless of their landholding size or socioeconomic status. Women Farmers - The programme will also actively engage women farmers, ensuring their participation in planning, resource access, training, and decision-making processes. Regional growth – CPP will address the diverse agro-climatic conditions across India by developing region-specific clean plant varieties and technologies.
Alignment with Broader Initiatives	It aligns with broader initiatives such as Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and the One Health approach.

What are its significances?

Reduce Fruit Import - India is 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.
Reduce import of plant materials - With the rising consumption of foreign and exotics fruits such as avocado and blueberry , demand has specifically increased for their planting materials .
Address import bottlenecks - At present, imported plants having to be kept in quarantine for two years.
The CPCs will cut this period down to six months.
Thus CPP can bolster India's position in the global fruit market.

Quick Facts

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
Launched in - 2014-15.
Aim – For holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.
Key Features
- Plantation Infrastructure Development - Establishing nurseries and tissue culture units to produce quality seed and planting material.
- Area Expansion - Creating new orchards and gardens for various crops, with or without integration (e.g., drip irrigation).
- Rejuvenation - Revitalizing old, unproductive orchards.
- Protected Cultivation - Setting up poly-houses, greenhouses, shade net houses, and walk-in tunnels, along with micro irrigation facilities.
- Promotion of Organic Farming - Encouraging organic practices, certification, and establishing vermi compost units.
- Creation of Water Resources – Developing community tanks, on-farm ponds, and water harvesting systems.
- Pollination Support through Beekeeping - Producing bee colonies, honey bee hives, and related equipment.
- Horticulture Mechanization - Providing power tillers, tractors, and plant protection equipment.
- Human Resource Development - Conducting awareness programs, farmer training, exposure visits, and study tours.
- Post-Harvest Management (PHM) Infrastructure - Setting up cold storage, pack houses, ripening chambers, reefer vehicles, processing units, and food processing facilities in North Eastern States.
- Marketing Infrastructure - Developing static and mobile vending carts, retail outlets, rural markets, wholesale markets, and direct market platforms.

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