Frequently Asked Questions

The Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program (CPP) is an initiative launched by the Government of India in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank to produce and certify ‘disease-free’ planting materials for horticulture crops. Announced in February 2023, the program focuses on establishing clean plant centres and nursery stock certification schemes to ensure high-quality, disease-free planting materials.

To ensure availability of certified, disease-free, true-to type vigorous planting materials of major fruit crops to the growers, which will ultimately help to enhance productivity of horticulture crops.

India’s horticulture sector is vital for the country’s food & nutritional security. India has heavily invested in irrigation, fertilizers, and agricultural extensions to boost farm productivity. However, plant diseases, particularly viral infections, significantly reduces crop yields and quality. The program addresses this challenge by ensuring quality planting materials free from harmful pathogens, thus along with protecting the environment, program aims in maintaining the global competitiveness.

Fruit crops are perennial in nature and it’ll take at least 2-3 years for establishment and bearing. If, systemic pathogens like viruses/viroid’s/phytoplasma infects the fruit orchard then it is very difficult to manage/eradicate the infestation. Uprooting of the infected orchard cause heavy economic loss to the farmers.  Using certified disease-free planting materials ensures that crops are free from harmful pathogens, leading to higher yields, better quality produce, and improved marketability. This reduces the risk of economic losses for farmers and contributes to the overall growth of the horticulture sector.

The CPP program launched with multiple stakeholders including the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) crop specific institutes, State Agricultural Universities (SAU’s), The Asian Development Bank (ADB), State government departments and Private nurseries.

Key component includes:

1. Updating the existing regulation mechanism under Seed Act and Nursery Act.
2. Establishing crop specific Clean Plant Centres (CPCs)
3. Matching grant for private nurseries for infrastructure development.
4. Monitoring and inspection of accredited nurseries for production of disease-free certified planting material.

Initially, the program focuses on following major fruit crops:

A CPP wing of National Horticulture Board (NHB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India is the implementing agency for CPP. NHB is responsible for overseeing the certification process, updating guidelines, and coordinating with various stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the CPP.

The program will improve the whole ecosystem in plant propagation/multiplication with wide range of stakeholders including Farmers, Nurseries, Scientists, and Research Institutes.

The CPP will benefit farmers by providing access to certified disease-free planting materials, leading to improved crop yields and quality. This helps in reducing losses due to plant diseases and enhances overall productivity.

Eight crop specific clean plant centers (CPCs) will be established across India with collaboration of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). An additional center will be set up at CITH Srinagar, solely funded by the Government of India.

Clean Plant Centers are the backbone of the program, key activities include;

1. Development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), diagnostics and therapeutics for virus, maintaining disease-free planting material, importing and quarantining new cultivars, and distributing clean materials.
2. Establishing and maintaining overall CPC labs and infrastructure.
3. Capacity building of CPC staff
4. Propagation, maintenance, and distribution of G1 clean propagation materials for the clean horticulture plant certification scheme.
5. Ensuring sustainable operation through revenue generation models.

The program focuses on rigorous diagnostics, virus elimination therapies, maintaining disease-free mother blocks, import of new cultivars with proper quarantine rules, and distribution of certified clean planting materials to farmers.

Systemic pathogens include viruses, viroids, and phytoplasma infect plants and spread through propagation materials. They are dangerous because once they infect a crop, it is very difficult to control moreover, it leads to significant yield and quality reduction of the produce.

The certification process involves propagating planting materials (candidate material) from a disease-free mother stock (Generation 1 i.e. G1) at CPCs. These are then multiplied across subsequent generations (G2 & G3) at accredited nurseries to produce certified ‘disease-free’ planting materials (G4) for distribution to farmers under a system-based certification scheme. Nurseries must follow strict procedures to ensure that the multiplied materials remain free from all pathogens.

Accredited nurseries and growers can access clean planting materials through the distribution channels set up by the Clean Plant Centers & accredited nurseries, ensuring that they receive high-quality, disease-free stock.

Accredited nurseries under this program are critical in propagating and supplying disease-free planting materials to farmers. The program incentivizes private nurseries to build and operate facilities that meet certification standards. Public nurseries will focus on maintaining disease-free foundation blocks and monitoring compliance with certification requirements.

Private nurseries can voluntarily participate in the accreditation scheme. They will be assessed and accredited based on criteria and guidelines developed by the project.

Nurseries certification for disease-free planting materials gain several benefits, including premium price, early identification of potential issues, reduced rejections, improved production practices, enhanced business reputation, and increased grower/farmers satisfaction.

The project will provide:

1. Matching grants for infrastructure development
2. Support for soil and virus testing
3. Accreditation and Certification

The program shifts the focus of the public sector from direct provision of planting materials to maintaining disease-free foundation blocks, monitoring, inspection, and enforcement. Private nurseries are encouraged to take on the role of propagating clean planting materials following certification procedures.

The CPP will review and potentially update the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order 2003 to align with the clean plant center system, ensuring that imported planting materials meet disease-free standards.

Challenges include ensuring adequate infrastructure for clean plant centers, establishing effective monitoring and inspection mechanisms, and integrating new regulations into existing legal frameworks.

Stakeholders can stay informed through the program’s website (cpp.india@nhb.gov.in), newsletters, and public awareness campaigns. Opportunities for involvement include participating in workshops, and training programs.