State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 06 Jun 2025

Clean Plant Programme

Why in News? 

At India’s first international Agri Hackathon in Pune, the Union government unveiled the ‘Clean Plant Programme’, aimed at providing disease-free horticultural plants to farmers, beginning with Maharashtra.  

• The initiative aims to boost agricultural productivity by offering healthy plants for crops like grapes, oranges, and pomegranates.

Key Points 

• About the Agri Hackathon: 
  • International Agri Hackathon served as the largest platform for fostering dialogue and accelerating innovation in agriculture. 
  • The event was jointly organised by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, along with other institutions of Pune. 
  • Objective: 
    • It addresses the challenges posed by a growing population, climate change, and agricultural uncertainties, envisioning a future where agriculture can transform lives. 
    • It seeks to harness the potential of innovation to build sustainable and scalable agricultural solutions. 
• About the Clean Plant Programme: 
  • The programme will be launched with an investment of Rs 300 crore, with a focus on Maharashtra, where the programme will start in Pune (Grapes), Nagpur (Oranges), and Solapur (Pomegranates). 
    • Maharashtra has emerged as the horticulture hub of India, driven by consistent government efforts and the innovative spirit of its farmers. 
  • Key Features of the Programme: 
    • Disease-Free Plants: Farmers will receive plants that are free from diseases, increasing productivity and reducing crop loss. 
    • Financial Support for Nurseries: The government will provide funding for large and medium-sized nurseries to support the production of disease-free seedlings.  
      • Large nurseries will receive Rs 3 crore, while medium-sized ones will receive Rs 1.5 crore. 
    • Production of Seedlings: The initiative aims to produce 8 crore disease-free seedlings annually, benefiting farmers across the nation. 
  • India aims to collaborate with countries like Israel and the Netherlands to enhance the Programme’s impact. 
• Lab to Land Initiative: 
  • To bridge the gap between research and practice, the government has launched the ‘Lab to Land’ initiative to directly connect agricultural scientists with farmers. 
  • Under this 16,000 agricultural scientists across the country will work closely with farmers and agriculture departments to transfer critical knowledge on seed production, disease diagnosis, and agricultural best practices. 

Status of Horticulture Sector in India 

• As of 2023, India is the 2^nd largest producer of fruits and vegetables. 
• The Indian horticulture sector contributes about 33% to the agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) making a very significant contribution to the Indian economy. 
• Government Initiatives Related to Horticulture: 
  • Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) 
  • National Horticulture Mission (NHM) 
  • Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH) 
  • Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH) 
  • Horticulture Cluster Development Programme