(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Clean Plant Programme: Revolutionizing Indian Horticulture

(FEBRUARY-2025)

India ranks as the world’s second-largest producer of fresh fruits and vegetables, possessing significant potential to satisfy both national and global demand.
In spite of this potential, the horticultural industry encounters difficulties such as subpar crop quality, restricted productivity, and concerns regarding sustainability.

In 2024, the Indian government introduced the Clean Plant Initiative (CPI) with a funding of Rs. 1,765.67 crore to counter these challenges.
The CPI is designed to supply farmers with virus-free, premium planting resources to boost productivity and competitiveness in the agricultural sector.

Enhance Planting Material Excellence: Deliver disease-free planting resources to enhance crop yields, reduce losses, and elevate the quality of horticultural outputs.
Launch Clean Plant Facilities: Establish nine cutting-edge Clean Plant Facilities throughout India, equipped with sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.
Create Region-Specific Varietals: Concentrate on generating region-specific clean plant varietals to aid farmers in adapting to local environmental conditions.

For Farmers: Enhanced crop yields, diminished losses, and increased income stemming from superior-quality outputs.
For Nurseries: Optimized certification procedures, infrastructural support, and heightened demand for top-notch plants.
For Consumers: Access to high-quality produce with improved taste, visual appeal, and nutritional content.
For Export Market: Strengthened international export positioning via enhanced quality and disease-free certifications, bolstering India’s stake in the global market.

Economical Access: Guaranteeing that small-scale and disadvantaged farmers can obtain high-quality planting materials.
Empowering Women Farmers: Fostering female participation in horticulture through dedicated support initiatives.
Region-Specific Strategy: Tackling diverse agro-climatic circumstances throughout India to maximize the program's effectiveness.

Convergence with Mission LIFE: Advocating sustainable farming methodologies that resonate with India’s wider environmental objectives.
One Health Approach: Minimizing dependence on detrimental chemicals and fostering a comprehensive approach to agricultural sustainability.

The National Horticulture Board (NHB), in synergy with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), will manage the program execution.
This collaboration will guarantee efficient implementation, utilizing research proficiency to amplify impact.

The Clean Plant Initiative is a revolutionary program aimed at enhancing the quality, productivity, and sustainability of India’s horticultural sector.