Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme:
The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $98 million loan to improve horticulture crop farmers’ access to certified disease-free planting materials which aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme.
- Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme is designed to address critical issues in horticulture by providing access to high-quality, virus-free planting material.
- The Program will aim to:
- Enhance the yield of horticulture crops,
- Disseminate and adopt climate resilient varieties,
- Protect the ecosystem through proactive virus and disease control measures.
- Under this programme 9 world class state-of-the-art Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture labs.
- A robust certification system will be implemented to ensure thorough accountability and traceability in planting material production and sale.
- It also prioritizes affordable access to clean plant material for all farmers, actively engages women farmers, and addresses the diverse agro-climatic conditions across India by developing region-specific clean plant varieties and technologies.
- Implemented by: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
- The programme is poised to deliver numerous benefits across various stakeholders, from farmers to consumers, and bolster India’s position in the global fruit market.
