Central government has launched a new platform called CDP-SURAKSHA to disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP).This will boost the growth of India’s horticulture sector, which contributes nearly one-third to the agriculture gross value addition (GVA).
CDP-SURAKSHA
- SURAKSHA stands for “System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance.”
- The platform will allow an instant disbursal of subsidies to farmers in their bank accounts by utilising the e-RUPI voucher from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
- It has features such as database integration with PM-KISAN, cloud-based server space from NIC, UIDAI validation, eRUPI integration, local government directory (LGD), content management system, geotagging, and geo-fencing.
Working
- The platform allows access to farmers, vendors, implementing agencies (IA), cluster development agencies (CDAs), and officials of the National Horticulture Board (NHB).
- A farmer can login using their mobile number, place an order and contribute their share of the cost of planting material.
- After payment, an e-RUPI voucher will be generated. This voucher will then be received by a vendor, who will provide the required planting material to the farmer.
- After the delivery of material, farmers have to verify the delivery through geo-tagged photos and videos of their field.
- After verification, the implementing agencies (IA) will release the money to the vendor for the e-RUPI voucher. The vendor will be required to upload an invoice of the payment on the portal.
- The IA will collect all the documents and share them with the CDA for subsidy release, then only the subsidy will be released to the IA.
- However, the farmer, who raised the demand for the plant material using the platform, can avail of the subsidy at the first stage only.
What is e-Rupee
- It is a one-time payment mechanism that enables users to redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access, at the merchants accepting UPI e-Prepaid Vouchers.
- The e-RUPI would be shared with the beneficiaries for a specific purpose or activity by organisations via SMS or QR code.
Status of the Horticulture Sector in India
- India is the 2nd largest producer of fruits and vegetables.
- Fruits and vegetables account for almost 90% of the total horticulture production in the country.
- The Indian horticulture sector contributes about 33% to the agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) making a very significant contribution to the Indian economy.
- India is currently producing about 320.48 million tons of horticulture produce which has surpassed the food grain production, that too from a much smaller area (25.66 million Ha. for horticulture against 127.6 M. ha. for food grains).
- The productivity of horticulture crops is much higher compared to the productivity of food grains (12.49 tones/ha against 2.23 tones/ha.).
- According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), India leads in the production of certain vegetables (ginger and okra) and fruits (banana, mangoes and papaya).
- In terms of exports, India is ranked 14th in vegetables and 23rd in fruits, and its share in the global horticultural market is a mere 1%.
- Bangladesh, UAE, Nepal, Netherlands, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the UK, Oman, and Qatar are the major export destinations for fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Around 15-20% of the fruits and vegetables in India are wasted along the supply chain or at a consumer level, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
Cluster Development Program (CDP)
- It is a central sector programme aimed at growing and developing identified horticulture clusters to make them globally competitive.
- A horticulture cluster is a regional/geographical concentration of targeted horticulture crops.
- It will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
- In a pilot phase, the programme will be implemented in 12 horticulture clusters, out of the total 55 clusters selected for the programme.
- These clusters will be implemented through Cluster Development Agencies (CDAs) which are appointed on the recommendations of the respective State/UT Government.
- To address all major issues related to the Indian horticulture sector including pre-production, production, post-harvest management, logistics, marketing and branding.
- CDP aims to improve exports of targeted crops by about 20% and create cluster-specific brands to enhance the competitiveness of cluster crops.
- To leverage geographical specialisation and promote integrated and market-led development of horticulture clusters.
- To converge with other initiatives of the Government such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.