The Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (CDP) is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, to promote the integrated and market-led development of horticulture clusters.
The program is designed to leverage the geographical specialization of horticulture clusters and enhance their global competitiveness.
The National Horticulture Board has been designated as the Nodal Agency for the implementation of the program.
The key provisions of the Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (CDP) include:
Geographical Specialization: The program is designed to leverage the geographical specializations of horticulture clusters and promote integrated and market-led development of pre-production, production, post-harvest, logistics, branding, and marketing activities.
Pilot Launch and Scaling Up: The program was piloted in 12 out of 55 identified horticulture clusters, and based on the learnings from the pilot project, it will be scaled up to cover all 55 clusters.
Cluster Classification: Clusters have been classified into Mega, Midi, and Mini clusters based on the area coverage, and the pattern of assistance for each cluster is proposed accordingly.
Institutionalization: For the implementation of the CDP, cluster-wise Cluster Development Agencies (CDAs) have been appointed to ensure the institutionalization of the development process.
Global Competitiveness: The program aims to achieve holistic growth and development of identified horticulture clusters to make them globally competitive.
Reduction of Losses: It aims to reduce harvest and post-harvest losses by developing, expanding, and upgrading the infrastructure for post-harvest handling of produce and value addition
The CDP aims to address various aspects of the horticulture value chain, including preproduction, production, post-harvest, logistics, branding, and marketing activities. It also seeks to reduce harvest and post-harvest losses by developing, expanding, and upgrading the infrastructure for post-harvest handling of produce and value addition.
The Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (CDP) offers several benefits, including:
Introduction of Innovative Technologies: The program facilitates the introduction of innovative technologies and practices to enhance the global competitiveness of focus cluster crops.
Capacity Building and Income Enhancement: It seeks to build the capacity of stakeholders and enhance farmers' income through cluster-specific interventions, including brand promotion.
Export Improvement and Brand Enhancement: The CDP aims to improve exports of targeted crops by about 20% and create cluster-specific brands to enhance the competitiveness of cluster crops.
Holistic Growth and Development: The program is aimed at the holistic growth and development of identified horticulture clusters, making them globally competitive.
Reduction of Post-Harvest Losses: It aims to reduce harvest and post-harvest losses by developing, expanding, and upgrading the infrastructure for post-harvest handling of produce and value addition.
Transformation of the Horticulture Ecosystem: The CDP has the potential to transform the entire horticulture ecosystem and attract significant investment in the horticulture sector.
The program will be rolled out to cover all the identified horticulture clusters, and cluster-wise Cluster Development Agencies (CDAs) have been appointed for its implementation.
The states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Mizoram, and Jharkhand are among the states where the program is being implemented. The CDP has the potential to transform the entire horticulture ecosystem and is expected to attract significant investment in the horticulture sector.
The Horticulture Cluster Development Programme is expected to have a positive impact on the horticulture sector, farmers' livelihoods, and the overall competitiveness of horticulture clusters.
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