How the Clean Plant Programme Aims to Transform Horticulture

Why in news?

It will be interesting to see India’s agriculture step up another notch with the launch of the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), a government scheme for the horticulture business. Unveiled in February this year during the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman intervening Budget speech, the CPP got the Union Cabinet stamp on Friday paving the way to boost the quality and yield of horticulture, particularly fruits crops across the country.

Clean Plant Programme was designed and launched by the Ministry of Agriculture to meet various difficulties that hit the fruit growers of India. The CPP has been planned with a budget outlay of Rs 1,765 crore with special focus on making available virus-free planting material to the farmers so that there is improvement in production of varieties of fruits and quality of planting material available in the country. The objective which the programme has envisaged will help in making the horticulture sector of India, more competitive in both the domestic as well as the international market.

Understanding the Need for the Clean Plant Programme

Currently, India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the globe next only to China. Over the past decade there has been an increase of the horticulture crops area in the country which in 2013-14 stood at 24 million hectare to 28. The area subject to water logging was estimated to be at 63 million hectares in 2023-24. In the same regard, the production of horticultural crops has increased from 277. from 4 million mt to 352 million mt in the said period.

However, several factors limit the growth of horticulture in India beyond its potential of growth to become the leading country in horticulture production. Among these challenges one can name the problem of having an access to the disease-free planting materials of higher quality. With a fast-growing trend of consumers’ awareness on healthy foods including fruits, such as foreign apples, avocados and blueberries, etc. , the demand for planting materials has become of more importance than ever before.

During the financial year 2023-24 export of fresh fruits from India was $1 billion. 15 billion while monopolously exporting fruits worth $2. 73 billion, therefore it is evident that the country is a major player in the international fruit industry. This has been occasioned by growing demand for planting materials particularly of exotic and high value crops as well as imports of planting materials. However, the current process of applying for planting materials import is so involving involving stringent quarantine regulations such that it takes up to two years to access such materials.

The identification of quality planting material remains a problem due to the long time and money spent in this process, which the Clean Plant Programme aims at overcoming so as to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Indian fruit growers.

Key Components of the Clean Plant Programme

The Clean Plant Programme has been broken down into three categories so as to ensure that there is easy access to quality planting materials that are free from viruses by farmers. These elements are the setting up of CPCs, boosting of infrastructure as well as coming up with an administrative and accreditation system.

Establishment of Clean Plant Centers (CPCs)

• In the centre of the CPP, it is envisaged to establish nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) in the course of the work. These center will act as source of planting material free of diseases, quality and in large scale. The CPCs will be responsible for several critical functions:
  • Disease Diagnostics and Therapeutics: These CPCs shall be endowed with various diagnostic equipments and therapeutic interventions with the view of making the planting material to be virus and pathogen free. This will be of assistance in the management of the health of the mother plants that are used in vegetative propagation.
  • Creation of Mother Plants: The CPCs will also provide and ensure that there is list of mother plants to produce clean planting materials. These mother plants will just be taken to nurseries all over the country and they will be multiplies and made available for the farmers.
  • Quarantine of Planting Materials: The planting materials that are locally produced as well as those imported for commercial growing and marketing purposes, will be subjected to a strict quarantine in the CPCs. This will serve to avoid disease carry forward and also keep check on the quality of the planting materials.

Infrastructure Enhancement and Large-Scale Nurseries

• The second main sub-strategy of the CPP is related to improvement of the facilities for the multiplication and dissemination of clean planting stocks.
• The programme envisages large-sale nurseries that will be complementary to a set of CPCs.
• These nurseries will be of immense help in replicating the mother plants that has to be sourced form the CPCs and supplying it to farmers all over the country.
• To enhance the production of quality planting materials, decrease dependence on imports and ultimately improve the productivity and profitability of horticultural crops of the country, the CPP has laid down provisions for developing structures for plant propagation.

Regulatory and Certification Framework

• On the compostion of regulatory and certification regime for the CPP, the following is important to note The CPP considers formulation of a proper regulation and accreditation system in order to guarantee the authenticity and provenance of the planting materials.
• It will set out guidelines and practice for the generation, accreditation, and marketing of planting material. Key aspects of this framework include:
• Accountability and Traceability:
  • By doing so, the regulatory framework will have capacity in ensuring all the planting materials that are produced and placed in the market under the CPP are traceable and of right quality.
  • This will assist avoid presenting of poor quality or infected plants to the market since this has tremendrous impact on production of crops and yields.
• Certification Process:
  • There will also be vigorous certification exercise to ensure that the planting materials are quality and disease free.
  • This certification will complement the drive to offer farmers credible planting materials in order to improve on their production and quality on their produces.

Impact of the Clean Plant Programme on India’s Horticulture Sector

• The Clean Plant Programme is believed to mean a revolution in the horticulture industry in India.
• By providing farmers with access to high-quality, disease-free planting materials, the programme aims to:
  • Increase Crop Yields: Clean planting material available in the markets will result in healthier plants and therefore better yields per hectare hence improving the income generating prospects of fruit farmers.
  • Enhance Fruit Quality: The planting material and supply will be virus free and this will improve the quality of fruits that will be produced in India thus being able to penetrate in the international market.
  • Reduce Dependence on Imports: Inasmuch as it will increase the availability of high quality planting material in various parts of the country, the CPP will ensure reduced reliance on imports hence conserve foreign exchange while at the same time encourage local production of planting material in the horticulture industry.
  • Accelerate Access to Exotic Varieties: The CPCs will also standardise the period of quarantine for imported planting material down to six months from the two years currently. This will help the farmer so that he or she can easily and quickly access exotic and high value fruit species.

Challenges and the Way Forward

• As to the CPA, a promising program aimed at the sustainable development, the further realization of the program will be closely related to the cooperation and coordinated efforts at the governmental and non-governmental, scientific and, commercial levels.
• The central tasks are going to be to make sure that CPCs are provided with the necessary tools and knowledge – these are critical factors for the programme.
• development of a sound regulatory and certification policies will necessitate much planning and synergy so as not to be bogged down by cumbersome bureaucracy to the realization of the CPP s intended benefits to the farmers.

Conclusion

• The Clean Plant Programme represents a significant step forward in India’s efforts to boost the productivity and quality of its horticulture sector.
• By providing farmers with access to virus-free, high-quality planting materials, the CPP is poised to enhance the competitiveness of Indian fruits in the global market and improve the livelihoods of fruit growers across the country.
• As the programme moves forward, it will be essential to maintain a focus on efficient implementation, collaboration, and innovation to unlock the full potential of India’s horticulture industry.

FAQs on Clean Plant Programme India

Q1: What is the Clean Plant Programme (CPP)?
Ans: The Clean Plant Programme (CPP) is a government initiative aimed at increasing the yield and quality of fruit crops in India by providing farmers with virus-free, high-quality planting materials. It was first announced in the Union Budget 2023 and has a budget of Rs 1,765 crore.

Q2: How will the CPP benefit Indian farmers?
Ans: The CPP will help farmers by providing access to disease-free planting materials, which are expected to increase crop yields and improve the quality of fruits. This will lead to better income opportunities and enhance the competitiveness of Indian fruits in both domestic and international markets.

Q3: What are Clean Plant Centers (CPCs)?
Ans: Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) are specialized facilities established under the CPP to diagnose and treat plant diseases, create and maintain mother plants, and quarantine planting materials. These centers will be crucial in producing and distributing high-quality, virus-free planting materials to farmers.