Context:
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, at the conclusion of India’s first International Agri Hackathon held in Pune, announced the launch of nine ‘Clean Plant’ projects across India. The initiative is aimed at supplying disease-free planting materials and boosting India’s horticulture competitiveness.
Key Announcements:
- Clean Plant Projects:
- Total Projects: 9 nationwide
- Maharashtra: 3 major centres at a cost of ₹300 crore
- Pune: Clean planting material for grapes
- Nagpur: Focus on oranges
- Solapur: Focus on pomegranates
- Objective: To produce 8 crore healthy seedlings annually through modern nurseries
- Funding Support for Nurseries:
- Large nurseries: ₹3 crore assistance
- Medium nurseries: ₹1.5 crore assistance
- Global Collaboration:
- International partners: Israel and Netherlands
- Role: Support modern horticulture technologies and practices
Key Policy Initiatives:
- Lab to Land Mission:
- 16,000 agricultural scientists to engage directly with farmers
- Focus: Transfer of seed technologies, disease solutions, yield optimization
- Youth & Startups:
- Emphasis on agri-entrepreneurship among the youth
- Promotion of agri-tech innovation in AI, mechanization, soil health, post-harvest tech, and pest control
- Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 2025:
- Ongoing outreach campaign for farmer welfare and innovation diffusion
- Focus areas: Combat fake fertilizers, promote modern techniques, and improve market linkages
PIB
