Seeds of the Future: Clean Plant Programme Driving Disease-Free Horticulture in India

24 Sep Seeds of the Future: Clean Plant Programme Driving Disease-Free Horticulture in India

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and Topic details “Seeds of the Future: Clean Plant Programme Driving Disease-Free Horticulture in India.”

SYLLABUS MAPPING

GS–3 – Economy / Agriculture / Science & Technology / Environment

FOR PRELIMS

What is the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) and its key objectives in providing disease-free planting material?

FOR MAINS

Analyse the role of the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) in enhancing productivity, income, and global competitiveness of Indian horticulture.

Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet on 9th August 2024 approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) with the objective of supplying farmers with disease-free planting material. The programme is designed to combat systemic pathogens, particularly viruses, that are responsible for significant yield and quality losses in horticultural crops. It will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB), while the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will provide technical support and capacity-building assistance. The initiative has a total outlay of ₹1,765.67 crore, which includes financial support through a $98 million loan sanctioned by the Asian Development Bank in December 2023.

Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

1. Conceptualised by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank.
2. Aims to provide healthy, virus-free and disease-free planting material of key fruit crops.
3. Focuses on preventive crop health management by starting with clean, certified planting stock.
4. Seeks to enhance farmers’ productivity, income, and profitability.
5. Designed to boost India’s global competitiveness in horticulture by ensuring quality standards.

Key Benefits of Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

1. Boosts Farmers’ Income – Provides access to virus-free, high-quality planting material, leading to higher yields and better profitability.
2. Strengthens Nurseries – Introduces certification systems and infrastructure support to enable large-scale propagation of clean planting stock.
3. Improves Consumer Experience – Ensures superior quality fruits with better taste, appearance, and nutritional value.
4. Enhances Export Competitiveness – Positions India as a global leader in fruit exports through high-quality, disease-free produce.
5. Promotes Equity and Inclusivity – Makes clean planting material affordable for all farmers, engages women farmers, and develops region-specific solutions.

Importance of Indian Horticulture

Government Policies and Initiatives

Key Challenges in the Horticulture Sector

1. Climate change impacts: Erratic monsoon, rising temperatures, droughts, and floods reduce yields.
Example: Heatwaves in 2022 reduced onion output in Maharashtra by 20%.
2. Post-harvest losses: Around 20–30% wastage of perishable produce due to poor storage and transport.
Example: Potato farmers in Uttar Pradesh face 25% loss due to inadequate cold chains.
3. Infrastructure gaps: Limited access to organized markets, poor logistics, and inadequate warehousing.
Example: Odisha’s vegetable farmers forced into distress sales due to lack of cold storage.
4. Quality planting material: Lack of disease-free seeds and planting material.
Example: Banana bunchy top virus in Tamil Nadu lowered yields drastically before clean planting initiatives.
5. Market volatility: High price fluctuations in crops like onion and tomato, impacting farmer income.
Example: Onion prices in Nashik (Maharashtra) crashed from ₹25/kg to ₹2/kg in 2023.
6. Global competition: Stiff competition in exports despite being the largest producer of spices and second in fruits/vegetables.
Example: Indian grapes rejected in EU markets due to pesticide residues, reducing export earnings.
7. Water stress: Over-extraction of groundwater for crops like banana and sugarcane affecting horticulture sustainability.
Example: Banana farming in Jalgaon (Maharashtra) consumes excessive groundwater.

Way Forward

Conclusion

The Clean Plant Programme (CPP) strengthens India’s horticulture by providing disease-free planting material, boosting yields, farmer incomes, and export competitiveness. Along with policies like MIDH and PMKSY, it addresses challenges such as climate impacts, post-harvest losses, and market volatility. Emphasis on climate-resilient farming, cold chains, and digital traceability ensures sustainable growth. Together, these initiatives position India as a global horticultural leader while promoting farmer prosperity and food security.

Prelims Question

Q. Which of the following statements regarding the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is/are correct?
1. MIDH is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented for holistic development of horticulture in India.
2. Under MIDH, the Government of India contributes 90% of the total outlay in all States.
3. The scheme covers fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, spices, flowers, coconut, and bamboo.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A) 1 and 3 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 2 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Mains Question

Q. Explain the main objectives of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and how it supports the holistic growth of India’s horticulture sector.

(250 words)

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Anshika

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