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