Ensure strict adherence to plant quarantine norms: Experts

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 15

National experts and scientists discussed the importance of quarantine measures in the import of planting material during a day’s awareness workshop organised by the Department of Plant Pathology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan.

Dr HR Gautam, Head of Department (HoD), Plant Pathology, emphasised the need for bar coding of the imported plants to monitor their movement and check their unauthorised exit from the quarantine facilities.

Dr BS Negi, DGM, NMS, said under the HP Horticulture Development Project (HDP), around 30 lakh plants had been imported by the state and the focus had been on importing hardy and disease-resistant varieties, which can help improve the quality and productivity. He said over 50 PEQ sites had been established in the state.

Stressing on strict adherence of guidelines, Vice-Chancellor Dr Parvinder Kaushal said, “In order to enhance the productivity of orchards, newer varieties have to be imported. A small mistake can cause the entry of viruses and pose a serious risk to the livelihood avenues while adversely affecting the economy of the state.”

Dr Ravinder Sharma, Director, Research, and Nodal Officer of the HDP, said gene banks and bud wood banks had been established at the university and the outstation centres.

Dr Celia Chalam, who heads Plant Quarantine Division, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), elaborated upon the norms for importing plants. She exhorted the importers to follow the norms with precision to avoid severe losses to our crops in future.

Dr VK Baranwal, Principal Scientist of the Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, emphasised the need for establishing the ‘virus certification system’ to contain the spread of viruses and virus-like organisms.

“Government and private nurseries should be brought under the ambit of a system having mandatory protocol for virus-free mother stock of plants for multiplication. Early detection of viruses can help fetch four more benefits in terms of productivity,” he observed.

Deepak Singha, a progressive farmer representing the Plum Growers Forum, said a mechanism should be devised where farmers are compensated in case their infected orchards are to be destroyed.