Current Context : Recently, the union government has launched the ‘Clean Plant Programme’ at India’s first International Agri Hackathon (Pune) to provide disease-free planting material for grapes, oranges, and pomegranates from Maharashtra.

ABOUT

• Objective: Ensure availability of certified, disease-free saplings to boost horticultural productivity and reduce crop losses.
• Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (NAPFA) via the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Key Components:

• 9 Clean Plant Centres nationwide
• 3 in Maharashtra: Pune (grapes), Nagpur (oranges), Solapur (pomegranates)
• Subsidy: ₹3 crore (large nurseries), ₹1.5 crore (medium)
• Output Target: 8 crore saplings per year
• International Ties: Collaboration with Israel and Netherlands for tech transfer