Clean Plant Revolution

The Union Cabinet approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP)  to provide Indian farmers with virus-free, high-quality planting material, aiming to enhance horticulture productivity and global competitiveness.

Ensuring Disease-Free Horticulture

Challenges in Plant Health

• Climate and Biotic Threats:
  • Climate change, pests, and systemic pathogens like viruses pose major risks to crop productivity and quality.
  • By the time symptoms appear in the field, yield losses are often irreversible.
• Significance of Preventive Measures:
  • Use of high-quality seeds and disease-free planting material is recognized as the most effective strategy.
  • Preventive measures have no adverse side effects compared to chemical interventions.

Overview of Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

• Launch and Implementation:
  • Approved by Union Cabinet in August 2024, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
  • Implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) with technical guidance from ICAR.
  • Investment: ?1,765.67 crore, including $98 million ADB loan.
• Objectives:
  • Provide virus-free planting material of key horticultural crops.
  • Enhance farmer income, productivity, and global competitiveness.
  • Promote equity, inclusivity, and climate-resilient practices.
• International Collaboration:
  • Partnerships with Israel and the Netherlands for best practices and technology transfer.

Key Infrastructure and On-Ground Actions

• Clean Plant Centres:
  • Nine centres to be established across India; three in Maharashtra for grapes, oranges, and pomegranates (?300 crore).
  • National-level laboratory in Pune for original plant species research.
• Nursery Development:
  • Large nurseries supported with ?3 crore; medium nurseries ?1.5 crore.
  • Annual distribution: 8 crore disease-free seedlings.
• Hazard Analysis and Laboratory Assessments:
  • Profiling viruses to ensure certification.
  • Crop-specific surveys: Grapevine (578 samples), Apple (535 samples), Citrus in preparation.
  • Bioinformatics pipeline for HTS data developed for faster virus detection.
• Source to Soil Protocol:
  • Pathogen-free material undergoes re-testing, propagation, and distribution via accredited nurseries.
  • Positive material undergoes virus elimination through tissue culture, heat, or cryo-therapy.

Benefits and Broader Impact
       

• Farmers:Higher yields, improved quality, and increased income.
• Nurseries:Streamlined certification, infrastructure support, and growth opportunities.
• Consumers:Virus-free, nutritious, and better-quality fruits.
• Exports:Strengthens India’s global horticultural competitiveness.
• Equity and Inclusivity:Affordable access for all farmers; active participation of women; region-specific clean plant varieties.
• Alignment with National Initiatives:
  • Mission LiFE: Promotes sustainable and eco-friendly horticultural practices.
  • National One Health Mission: Integrates human, animal, and environmental health to address plant-livestock-human interactions.
  • MIDH: CPP complements Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, enhancing productivity from 12.10 MT/ha (2019–20) to 12.56 MT/ha (2024–25).

Comprehensive Analysis

• Strategic Importance: CPP addresses systemic pathogen threats, ensuring sustainable horticulture growth.
• Economic Impact: Boosts farmer income, rural employment, and export potential while reducing crop losses.
• Technological Integration: Hazard analysis, bioinformatics, and tissue culture enhance disease detection and prevention.
• Policy Synergy: Alignment with MIDH, Mission LiFE, and One Health ensures holistic development and sustainability.