Brought from Kashmir, 1 lakh apple plants, rootstocks destroyed in Himachal

Shimla, February 14

The Department of Horticulture has destroyed nearly one lakh apple plants and rootstocks brought into the state illegally, mainly from Kashmir. Most of the illegal planting material has been destroyed in Mandi, Karsog, Kotkhai, Rohru, Jubbal, Rampur, Bilaspur and Kinnaur. The department is taking such strict action to ensure that new pests and diseases do not enter the orchards in the state with the planting material that has not been brought from authorised nurseries.

As per Vinay Singh, Director, Horticulture, the Centre had sent an advisory in August last year about a pest that was attacking apple plants and fruit in several parts of Kashmir. Incidentally, much of the apple planting material comes from Kashmir into the state.

To ensure this pest do not travel with the planting material, the department has been monitoring the planting material coming from outside the state. Planting material with proper documentation and certification is being allowed into the state.

Warning that the entry of illegal planting material will increase the risk of the outbreak of new diseases in the state, the Horticulture Department has urged the apple growers to not buy illegal panting material. “If the pest enters the state, the apple growers could face severe damage,” the Director said.

To ensure that only legal planting material enters the state, the department has deployed its employees at entry points to the state. The department has also constituted flying squads to seize the planting material that has been brought into the state without proper documentation and certification.