India Secures $98 Million ADB Loan to Enhance Horticulture Health

India has secured a $98 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to enhance horticulture productivity by promoting plant health management. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP) and aims to increase crop yields, improve quality, and build resilience against climate change.

The funding will focus on the establishment of disease-free planting material systems, which will benefit farmers through access to high-quality planting materials. The project will be overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in partnership with the National Horticulture Board and Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Key Project Details

Loan Agreement: Signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and Kai Wei Yeo from ADB’s India Mission.

Objective: To support the establishment of clean plant centres, equipped with advanced diagnostic facilities for disease-free plant materials.

Focus Areas: Improving crop yield and quality, enhancing farmers’ resilience to climate change, and developing regulatory frameworks for plant health management.

Collaboration: The project will work closely with private nurseries, researchers, state governments, and growers’ associations to ensure long-term sustainability.

Alignment with Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme

• The initiative is part of the broader Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme, which aims to bolster India’s horticulture sector through better plant health management and the establishment of disease-free planting systems.
• Expected Outcomes: Increased crop productivity, climate resilience, and a strengthened regulatory framework for plant health management.

Summery of the news