Government of India and ADB sign $98 million loan to promote plant health management in India’s horticulture.

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Government of India and ADB sign $98 million loan to promote plant health management in India’s horticulture.

Why in the news?

• The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $98 million loan to improve horticulture crop farmers’ access to certified disease-free planting materials, which will boost their crops’ yield, quality, and resilience to climate impacts.

Key points:

• “The project supports theGovernment of India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP) that enhances plant health management.
•  It will help develop regulatory framework and institutional systems to effectively implement the CPP for horticulture in India. 
• It will be implemented bythe Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
• The project will involve close consultation with private nurseries, researchers, state governments, and growers’ associations to ensure its success and sustainability.
• The plant health management promoted through the project will also help farmers adapt to climate change, as rising temperatures not only cause extreme weather events but also affect pest and disease behaviour.
• This will be achieved through establishing clean plant centres dedicated to maintaining disease-free foundation materials. 
• These centres will feature laboratories equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic testing methods and will be staffed with experts who are trained in clean plant centre operating procedures and diagnostic testing protocols.
• The project will roll out a clean plant certification scheme, accrediting private nurseries, and testing and certifying their planting materials. 
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