Maharashtra Tissue Culture Industry Calls for Certification Reform

The Association of Plant Tissue Culture Industries in Maharashtra has formally requested reforms regarding certification costs and grievance redressal mechanisms. On Monday, the association submitted a letter to officials in the department of biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology, highlighting challenges such as limited certification validity and high costs, as well as a lack of coordination between state agencies.

During a stakeholders’ meeting at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, which was part of the National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants (NCSTCP) programme, industry representatives expressed concerns over the rising number of consumer court cases against tissue culture companies. According to Akshay Patil, chairman of the association, certified plants often lead to disputes during the panchnama process, where state officials hold the companies accountable. “Farmers file consumer court cases against us, even when the issue lies elsewhere,” he explained.

The meeting, designed to raise awareness about certification for tissue-cultured plants, underscored the difficulties faced by legitimate producers. Tushar Shinde, secretary of the association, pointed out that while companies selling certified plants are scrutinized, those distributing uncertified plants from other states escape any consequences. “These uncertified plants are often cheaper and undercut our prices, but we bear the blame,” Shinde noted. He called for the inclusion of at least one expert from the department in the inspection process to ensure fair assessments.

The association, established in 2022, reported that Maharashtra produces approximately 20 crore tissue culture plants annually, with bananas constituting about 90% of this output, alongside other crops like bamboo and pomegranate. Patil mentioned that around 50 companies operate in this sector, with 15 to 20 being active producers. The association currently represents 43 of these companies and seeks to work collaboratively for the benefit of both industry and farmers.

In addition to addressing certification issues, industry representatives called for a reduction in certification costs and extended validity periods to enhance financial viability for small and medium-sized producers. Patil emphasized the recent heavy rainfall that disrupted transport and logistics, further complicating plant movement. “Farmers are cancelling bookings. The government should consider providing us with protection against fluctuating market conditions,” he added.

The NCSTCP programme has had a significant impact since its inception. Debasis Chattopadhyay, director of BRIC-NIPGR, stated that over the past four years, 65 crore plants have been certified through this initiative, while approximately 35 lakh plants failing to meet quality standards were discarded, preventing the distribution of poor-quality or diseased plants.

Manoj Kumar Modi, nodal officer of the NCSTCP, noted that the certification programme for tissue culture plants has been active since 2006, resulting in the certification of 1.4 billion tissue culture plants. Pramod Tandon, secretary of the Plant Tissue Culture Association of India, encouraged the industry to explore innovative techniques, such as CRISPR technology and automated micropropagation systems, to further enhance production quality.

As the Maharashtra tissue culture industry seeks vital reforms, the call for action underscores the ongoing challenges faced by legitimate producers in navigating regulatory frameworks and market conditions.