Latest news with #CleanPlantProgramme
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
SPPU forms probe panel, promises strict action
The Centre launched the 'Clean Plant Programme' for grapes, oranges, and pomegranates in Maharashtra, aiming to provide disease-free horticultural plants. Nine programs will be initiated nationwide, with three in Maharashtra, supporting farmers through modern nurseries and scientific collaboration.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Centre launches ‘Clean Plant Programme' for grapes, oranges & pomegranates from Maha
The union government has launched the 'Clean Plant Programme' for grapes, oranges and pomegranates from Maharashtra; the programme will be implemented pan-India whereby farmers will get the said horticultural plants 'disease-free'. The launch was announced at India's first international Agri Hackathon organised in Pune, which was attended by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Chouhan lauded the innovation and enthusiasm demonstrated by the participants and acknowledged Maharashtra's significant contributions to horticultural excellence. 'Maharashtra has emerged as a horticulture hub of the country. The efforts of the government and the hard work of the state's farmers have set an example for the rest of the nation. There is no guarantee whether the plants available for cultivation in the horticulture sector are disease-free and productive. To solve this problem, the central government will launch the 'Clean Plant Programme' to ensure that plants available to farmers are disease-free,' Chouhan said. Nine 'Clean Plant Programmes' will be started across the country, three of which will be started in Maharashtra at a cost of ₹300 crore, Chouhan said. The 'Clean Plant Programme' for grapes will be started in Pune; that for oranges in Nagpur; and that for pomegranates in Solapur, Chouhan informed. Modern nurseries too will be set up along with these projects, Chouhan further said. The nurseries will support those who use technology for agriculture. A sum of ₹3 crore will be provided for large nurseries whereas that of ₹1.5 crore will be provided for medium-sized nurseries, he said. Through these nurseries, eight crore disease-free seedlings will be available to the farmers every year. The union minister expressed confidence that Maharashtra's horticulture will be able to compete with the rest of the world. Chouhan also said that India looks forward to cooperation from countries such as Israel and the Netherlands for this programme. The union minister added that scientists work in laboratories to produce good seeds, increase production and diagnose diseases. However, their research does not reach farmers in a timely manner. To bridge this gap, the government is trying to bring scientists and farmers together through 'Lab to Land'. For this, Chouhan said that the central government has taken an important decision that 16,000 scientists from across the country will come out of the laboratories and work directly with the farmers and the agriculture department of the union Government. Chouhan expressed his belief that if science and farmers come together and they get the support of the government and agricultural universities, miracles will happen in the agricultural sector.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Pune Agri Hackathon 2025: Union minister Chouhan announces 9 clean plant facilities, state gets 3 worth Rs 300 cr
Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of India's first Agri Hackathon in Pune on Tuesday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the launch of 'Clean Plant Programme' to establish nine horticultural facilities across the country. Chouhan revealed that three of these facilities will be located in Maharashtra, for grapes in Pune, oranges in Nagpur, and pomegranates in Solapur, with an investment of Rs 300 crore. Addressing the gathering that included Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Minister of Higher & Technical Education Chandrakant Patil, State Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale, and others, Chouhan highlighted Maharashtra's leadership in agriculture production, particularly in horticulture. 'There have been persistent challenges, such as a lack of healthy horticultural plants in nurseries. One cannot predict the disease beforehand, and later, when the plant grows fully, it is found with multiple diseases. So the Government of India is launching a 'Clean Plant Programme' to provide virus-free, disease-free plants through dedicated nurseries.' The clean plant initiative will get expert technical guidance from Israel and the Netherlands, while this initiative will complement advanced nurseries, with investments of Rs 3 crore for large nurseries and Rs 1.5 crore for mid-sized nurseries. These nurseries are expected to provide 8 crore disease-free plants. Chouhan emphasised that PM Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat can only be possible through Viksit Kheti and farmer welfare. 'We have over 16,000 scientists inventing in 113 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) centres, but their research solutions haven't reached the farms yet. We are working on Lab-Land synthesis that will end this disconnect,' he stated. Devendra Fadnavis thanked Chouhan for launching the 'Clean Plant Initiative' from Pune and praised the allocation of 20 lakh homes through the Rural Development Ministry. 'With Maharashtra being the horticulture basket of the country, this initiative will help grow horticulture exports,' he said. Fadnavis highlighted the urgent need for technological intervention in agriculture to combat climate change, rising input costs, and declining productivity. Despite agriculture engaging 45 per cent of the state's population, an increasing farm labour shortage poses significant challenges. 'Technological innovation like AI, blockchain, machine learning and others is the only way to address farmers' growing concerns,' he noted. The hackathon showcased various innovative solutions, including an AI-based chatbot providing scientific solutions to farmers in Marathi, a cotton harvester with AI-led complete crop management, crop protection modules against wild animals, and wireless fertigation systems based on Israeli practices for precise nutrient delivery and water conservation. Fadnavis announced plans to utilise the state government's Rs 120 crore startup dedicated Fund of Funds along with a similar Central government fund, to provide incubation and financial support for converting participant ideas into scalable start-ups. 'Maharashtra leads in agri startups in the country, and by empowering startups from tier 2, tier 3 cities, we will make them commercially marketable, keeping farmer welfare in mind,' he added. The Chief Minister also emphasised bringing a crop cover scheme with the central government's support to protect farmers from extreme weather-related crop losses. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that Pune's agricultural foundation was laid by Rajmata Jijau Maasaheb four centuries ago through Bal Shivaji Maharaj. 'Though we see AI-led developments today, the prosperity of drought-prone agriculture and poor farmers started then, which helped Maharashtra grow as a leading state in agri-production,' Pawar said. Pawar highlighted agriculture's resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic when other sectors stagnated. 'Maximum produce in minimum inputs, sustainable income, introducing technology-led farming method is the need today and Pune Agri Hackathon has worked well in these sectors,' he said, encouraging eliminated participants to continue consistent work on innovative solutions. 'The three-day Pune Agri Hackathon, held from June 1 to 3, was part of the five-year agricultural development plan for Pune, featuring cluster-based farming for climate-suitable crops. The initiative aims to empower over 1 lakh farmers who can use technology to increase agricultural production,' said Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi. 'The first-ever agri-hackathon received 551 entries across categories, including AI applications, fertigation, farm mechanisation, water and soil management, post-harvest technology, agri-economics and others. The jury panel selected 140 participants for the exhibition, with first-place winners receiving Rs 25 lakh and runner-up getting Rs 15 lakh. However, 50 per cent of the prize money will be given after analysing on-farm implementation outcomes,' added Dudi. Several MoUs were signed with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Bombay Chamber of Commerce, Nature Growth and others to provide incubation support to budding entrepreneurs, ensuring the hackathon's ideas translate into practical solutions.
India.com
19-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
India's Foodgrain Production Jumps 6.8% To Surpass 1,663.9 Lakh Tonnes In FY25
New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Monday that India's foodgrain production has increased by over 106 lakh tonnes to 1,663.91 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, which represents a 6.83 per cent increase over the corresponding figure of the previous year. "In 2023-24, the country's total foodgrains production was around 15,57.6 lakh tonnes. I am glad to tell you that in 2024-25, it has become 16,63.91 lakh tonnes," Chouhan said at a press conference here. "The production of the rabi crop was 1,600.06 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, now it has increased to 1,645.27 lakh tonnes," he said. The Union Minister said that his ministry's vision was not only to meet the country's own food requirement, but also to make India the food basket of the world. Chouhan also gave the call for "One Nation, One Agriculture and One Team" to make the country's farmers self-reliant and increase their incomes at the farmers convention - Krishi Samvaad - at Nagpur on Sunday. Chouhan said that during a 15-day campaign from May 29 to June 12, agricultural scientists will visit villages to guide farmers on sustainable farming practices and plan for the Kharif season. With 16,000 agricultural scientists under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), scientists will visit villages as a team along with agricultural extension officers to educate farmers about new seed varieties and innovative farming practices. The government is committed to bridging the gap between laboratories and farmlands, he added. He said the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry, state Agriculture Ministries, the ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, and all agricultural institutes should work together as a team. If all the institutions are connected, targets are set, roadmaps are made, then miracles can be made in agriculture, he added. Making another big announcement, the minister said the Centre would set up a national-level lab in Pune under the Clean Plant Programme. This laboratory will be set up in Pune for research on the original species of plants. Emphasising increasing agricultural production, Chouhan said that the Clean Plant Programme is being run to ensure pure and disease-free nurseries. To increase production, farmers should understand the need for good quality seeds, soil testing and reduction in production costs.
