India Signs $98 Million Loan Agreement– India Signs $98 Million Loan Agreement- India has signed a significant loan agreement of USD 98 million with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to enhance horticulture crop productivity. This initiative, focusing on plant health and disease-free planting material, aims to help farmers improve crop yields, quality, and resilience to climate change.
Key Highlights of India, ADB $98 Million Loan Agreement
India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have partnered to strengthen India’s horticulture sector through the establishment of disease-free planting systems. This project aligns with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP), ensuring farmers across the country have access to high-quality planting materials. The initiative is expected to lead to improved crop productivity, better quality, and resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Loan Agreement Details
The loan agreement, valued at USD 98 million, was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Kai Wei Yeo, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission.
The primary goal of this project is to improve access to certified, disease-free planting materials for farmers. The improved plant materials will help in boosting crop yields and ensuring that farmers are better prepared to face the challenges posed by climate change.
Project Table: Key Information
| Details | Information |
| Loan Amount | USD 98 million |
| Primary Focus | Disease-free planting materials |
| Project Name | Building India’s Clean Plant Programme |
| Agreement Signed By | Juhi Mukherjee (Ministry of Finance) and Kai Wei Yeo (ADB) |
| Main Objective | Improve crop yield, quality, and climate resilience |
| Key Collaborators | Ministry of Agriculture, National Horticulture Board, ICAR |
| Disease-Free Centers | To be equipped with diagnostic labs and trained staff |
Objectives of the Project
This loan will support the establishment of clean plant centres across India. These centres will be equipped with advanced laboratories for disease diagnostics and staffed by trained professionals. They will maintain disease-free foundation materials and introduce a clean plant certification scheme to ensure that private nurseries are providing high-quality plants.
By promoting plant health management, the project aims to address the growing concerns of pest and disease behavior influenced by rising temperatures due to climate change.
Alignment with Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP)
This initiative is part of the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP), which seeks to establish a robust regulatory framework for plant health management. The program focuses on:
- Ensuring disease-free planting materials
- Strengthening horticulture systems
- Helping farmers boost productivity and income
- Making India self-reliant in plant health management
Expected Outcomes and Benefits
The establishment of disease-free plant material systems is expected to:
- Increase crop productivity and quality
- Enhance farmers’ resilience against climate change
- Improve plant health management across India
- Support the development of new regulatory frameworks for plant health
- Foster collaboration between private nurseries, researchers, and government agencies
Project Implementation
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with the National Horticulture Board and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, will oversee the implementation of the project. Close coordination will be established with private nurseries, growers’ associations, and state governments to ensure the sustainability of the program.
India Signs $98 Million Loan Agreement- Summary
- Loan Agreement Signed: USD 98 million loan agreement between India and ADB to enhance horticulture productivity.
- Focus Areas: Disease-free planting materials, crop yield, quality improvement, and climate change resilience.
- Program Linkage: Part of the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP).
- Objectives: Improve access to certified planting materials, establish clean plant centres, and promote plant health management.
- Implementation: Led by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with ICAR and National Horticulture Board.
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FAQs on India Signs $98 Million Loan Agreement
The loan aims to improve horticulture productivity by promoting disease-free planting materials and plant health management in India.
Farmers will get access to high-quality, disease-free planting materials, leading to improved crop yields, better quality, and climate resilience.
The CPP is a government initiative focused on improving plant health management and establishing disease-free planting systems for horticulture.
The project aims to increase crop productivity, enhance quality, improve farmers’ resilience to climate change, and establish a regulatory framework for plant health.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with the National Horticulture Board and ICAR, will oversee the project.
The initiative will focus on disease-free planting systems, which will improve crop resilience against climate change, including rising temperatures and changing pest behavior.
Accredited private nurseries will be involved in providing high-quality certified plants, contributing to the success and sustainability of the project.
