India has signed a $98 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve horticulture crop productivity, the ministry of finance announced on Friday.
“The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today 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,” ministry of finance said in a statement.
The loan agreement, part of the “Building India’s Clean Plant Programme,” was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, joint secretary, department of economic affairs, ministry of finance, and Kai Wei Yeo, officer-in-charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission.
“ADB funding will promote plant health that is vital for improving productivity of farmers,” Mukherjee said after signing the agreement.
ADB representative Yeo highlighted that the project falls in line with the government’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP), which focuses on improving plant health management.
“It will help develop regulatory framework and institutional systems to effectively implement the CPP for horticulture in India. The project will involve close consultation with private nurseries, researchers, state governments, and growers’ associations to ensure its success and sustainability,” he said.
According to the finance ministry, the project aims to set up clean plant centers equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories for disease diagnostics, staffed with trained experts.
These centres will maintain disease-free foundation materials and roll out a clean plant certification scheme. Accredited private nurseries will be tested and certified to ensure farmers have access to high-quality planting materials.
These centers will be set up using disease-free foundation materials and roll out a clean plant certification scheme. Additionally, accredited private nurseries will be tested and certified to ensure farmers have access to high-quality planting materials.
The project aims to boost crop productivity and help farmers tackle climate change challenges by providing disease-free materials that enhance long-term resilience, as rising temperatures impact pest and disease behavior.
“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 behavior” the ministry said.
The project will be implemented by ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, along with the National Horticulture Board and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.