CDP-SURAKSHA -
AGRICULTURE
News: What is CDP-SURAKSHA, govt’s
new digital platform to disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers?
What's in the news?
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The Indian government has launched a new platform
CDP-SURAKSHA.
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This platform will be employed for disbursing subsidies to horticulture
farmers under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP).
CDP-SURAKSHA:
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It stands for System for Unified Resource
Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance.
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It is a digital platform which will allow an
instant disbursal of subsidies to farmers in their bank account by utilising the e-RUPI voucher from the
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Features of the
CDP-SURAKSHA:
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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.
Significance of the
CDP-SURAKSHA:
1. Boost to the
Horticulture Sector:
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India’s horticulture sector contributes nearly one-third to the agriculture gross value
addition (GVA). This platform will push the growth of the horticulture
sector.
2. Departure from the Old
System:
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It will provide subsidies to farmers at the time of
purchasing the planting material
unlike the old system where a farmer had to buy planting materials on their own
and then had to approach the officials concerned for the release of the
subsidy.
Go back to basics:
Cluster Development
Program (CDP):
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It is a component of the central sector scheme of National Horticulture Board (NHB).
Launched by - the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) in 2021.
Objective:
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To leverage
the geographical specialisation of horticulture clusters and promote
integrated and market-led development of pre-production, production,
post-harvest, logistics, branding, and marketing activities.
Horticulture Cluster
Development Programme (CDP):
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Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (CDP)
aims at growing and developing identified horticulture clusters to make them globally competitive.
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A cluster is a group
of enterprises. They are located within an identifiable and, as far as
practicable, contiguous area and producing similar products or services.
Nodal Agency:
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The nodal agency for the programme will be the
National Horticulture Board(NHB).
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It will implement the programme as a Central Sector Component of NHB.
Coverage:
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) has
identified 53 horticulture clusters.
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Of which 12 have been selected for the pilot launch
of the programme.
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Based on the learnings from the pilot project, the
programme will be scaled up to cover all the identified clusters.
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These clusters will be implemented through Cluster
Development Agencies (CDAs). CDAs are appointed on the recommendations of the
respective State/UT Government.
Key Features of the
Programme:
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The programme will address all major issues related
to the Indian horticulture sector.
○
This includes
pre-production, production, post-harvest management, logistics, marketing and
branding.
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The programme is designed to leverage geographical
specialisation and promote integrated and market-led development of
horticulture clusters.
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The programme is expected to converge with other
initiatives of the Government such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
Significance of the Programme:
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The programme will benefit about 10 lakh farmers and related
stakeholders of the value chain in the Horticulture Sector.
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The programme is expected to improve the exports of the targeted horticultural crops by
approximately 20%.
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The programme is also expected to attract an
estimated investment of INR 10,000 crore. It is when implemented in all the 53
clusters.