Mains Ready By December. Smash Mains & Smash PYQ Admissions Open

Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

What is the Clean Plant Programme (CPP)?

Details
Objective
  • To provide virus-free, high-quality planting material to farmers, enhancing the quality, productivity, and sustainability of fruit crops across India.
  • Aligns with Mission LiFE and One Health initiatives, promoting sustainable practices and reducing dependence on imported planting materials.
Key Features
  • Virus-Free Planting Material: Ensures availability of high-quality, virus-free planting material.
  • All-inclusivity: Accessible to all farmers, with emphasis on women’s participation.
  • Region-Specific Approaches: Tailored strategies for diverse agro-climatic conditions across India.
Core

Components

  • Clean Plant Centers (CPCs): Nine state-of-the-art CPCs equipped with advanced diagnostics and tissue culture labs will be established across India. These include:
  1. Grapes (NRC, Pune)
  2. Temperate Fruits (Apple, Almond, Walnuts, etc.): CITH, Srinagar & Mukteshwar
  3. Citrus Fruits (CCRI, Nagpur & CIAH, Bikaner)
  4. Mango/Guava/Avocado: IIHR, Bengaluru
  5. Mango/Guava/Litchi: CISH, Lucknow
  6. Pomegranate: NRC, Sholapur
  7. Tropical/Sub-Tropical Fruits: Eastern India.

These centers will produce and maintain virus-free planting material for large-scale propagation.

  • Certification and Legal Framework: Under the Seeds Act of 1966.
  • Nursery Infrastructure: Support for large-scale nurseries to multiply clean planting materials.
Key Benefits
  • For Farmers: Increased crop yields, improved income opportunities, and economic stability through access to virus-free, high-quality planting materials.
  • For Consumers: Access to superior quality, virus-free fruits, resulting in better taste, appearance, and nutritional value.
  • For nation: Strengthened position in global fruit trade through the production of higher-quality, disease-free fruits.

 

PYQ:

[2013] Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because:

(a) Exposure to sunlight is prevented

(b) Concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment is increased

(c) Rate of respiration is decreased

(d) There is an increase in humidity

[2018] Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers?

Click here to Download X-Factor Notes for FREE. Cover the entire Microthemes with PYQs.

Download free X-Factor Notes
Revised and updated X-Factor Notes for UPSC Mains 2027: subject booklets