The Indian government has announced its plans to establish 10 Clean Plant Centres to promote the domestic production of crops like apple, avocado, and blueberry. These crops have seen an increase in demand for imported planting materials, which the government aims to reduce by setting up these centres under the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program. The program’s overall budget will be Rs 2,200 crore until 2030, and it will offer diagnostic, therapeutic, and plant multiplication services.
Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program
The Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. Its primary aim is to reduce the challenges of obtaining disease-free and genuine planting materials for horticultural crops in India. The program will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board in partnership with research organizations, agriculture universities, and private sector entities.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Clean Plant Centres will play a crucial role in promoting the use of high-quality planting material in the country. The program will provide clean and healthy planting material to farmers, which will increase their productivity and income. The initiative will also help in reducing the import of planting materials and enhance the quality of domestically produced crops.
The program’s budget of Rs 2,200 crore until 2030 will be used to establish 10 Clean Plant Centres across the country. These centres will be set up in various states like Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and others. The centres will be equipped with the latest technology and infrastructure to provide services like diagnosis and therapy for diseases, plant propagation, and multiplication, which will ensure that farmers have access to high-quality planting material.
Impact on the Agriculture Sector
The program’s implementation will have a positive impact on the agriculture sector in India. The domestic production of crops like apple, avocado, and blueberry will increase, and the dependency on imported planting materials will reduce. It will also create job opportunities in the agriculture sector and promote entrepreneurship.
The program will encourage the production of high-quality planting materials, which will increase the yield of crops and improve the overall quality of agriculture produce. This, in turn, will increase the income of farmers and enhance their livelihoods. The Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program will promote the use of clean planting material and provide a platform for farmers to get access to disease-free and genuine planting materials.
