New Delhi: India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have inked a $98 million loan agreement, aiming to boost horticulture farming in the country. The purpose of this initiative is to increase crop productivity and ensure high-quality yields, helping farmers to overcome challenges like climate change.
The agreement, part of the “Building India’s Clean Plant Programme,” was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, and Kai Wei Yeo, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission.
The target is to set up disease-free planting material systems because it is essential for healthier plants and getting significant production. The funding will also help in the establishment of advanced clean plant centers with laboratories for disease testing and certification. These centers will ensure farmers get certified, high-quality planting materials through partnerships with private nurseries and researchers.
The project aligns with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aiming to improve plant health and create a regulatory framework for its implementation. Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee stressed the importance of plant health for enhancing farmers’ productivity. ADB’s Yeo added that the initiative is designed so that plants can adapt to high temperatures and disease patterns due to climate change.
The project will be supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with the National Horticulture Board and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The scheme is likely to help farmers boost their crop production along with coping with environmental challenges.
