Description

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Context:

The union government has launched the ‘Clean Plant Programme’ for grapes, oranges and pomegranates from Maharashtra.

About Clean Plant Programme

Aspect	Details
Initiative Objective	Promote availability of disease-free, high-quality planting materials for horticulture crops (fruits, vegetables, flowers).
Goal for Farmers	Improve productivity and quality by using certified and clean planting materials, reducing crop loss and increasing yield.
Component 1: Clean Plant Centers (CPCs)	Establishment of 9 CPCs for: - Disease diagnosis and treatment. - Developing mother plants. - Consolidating planting material supply.
Component 2: Infrastructure Development	- Large-scale nurseries to multiply clean planting material. - Use CPC-developed mother plants for propagation and distribution to farmers.
Component 3: Regulatory Framework	- Establish certification and regulatory mechanisms. - Ensure traceability and accountability in the planting material value chain.
Implementing Agencies	- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare - National Horticulture Board (NHB) - Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Clean Plant Centers

CPC Location	Crop Focus	Linked ICAR Institute
Pune, Maharashtra	Grapes	National Research Center for Grapes, Pune
Bikaner, Rajasthan	Citrus fruits	Central Institute of Arid Horticulture, Bikaner
Nagpur, Maharashtra	Citrus fruits	Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur
Solapur, Maharashtra	Pomegranate	National Research Center on Pomegranate, Solapur
Bengaluru, Karnataka	Mango, Guava, Dragon Fruit, Avocado	Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru
Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir	Temperate fruits – Apple, Almond, Walnuts	Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Srinagar
Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand	Temperate fruits – Apple, Almond, Walnuts	Regional Station of CITH, Mukteshwar
East India (WB, Jharkhand)	Tropical and Subtropical plants	East India Horticulture Center (West Bengal and Jharkhand)
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh	Mango, Guava, Litchi	Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow

ALSO READ- https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/clean-plant-programme-cpp-and-indias-horticulture-sector

Source: Hindustan Times

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The Clean Plant Programme is a strategic intervention to boost horticultural productivity through disease-free planting material. Critically examine its potential impact on Indian horticulture, with special reference to Maharashtra. (250 words)