Chemical to be imported from US to combat apple disease

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 25

In its bid to combat the problem of Specific Apple Replant Disease (SARD), the government has obtained permission from the Central Insecticides Board, Union Ministry of Agriculture, for the import of chloropicrin chemical along with machinery and equipment.

Principal Secretary Jagdish Sharma today said the HPMC would import this chemical from the USA for providing it to the University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, for trials. He said the availability of chloropicrin chemical would go a long way in managing soil-borne pathogens affecting other fruits, vegetables and floriculture crops.

He said the chemical would be helpful in treating the soil in polyhouses between crop cycles. “Chloropicrin is the best chemical which has been an effective combatant in the war against SARD. The chemical was not registered in India till date and thus, could not be manufactured or imported from outside for the use in soil treatment,” he stated.

He said keeping in view the importance of the chemical, necessary steps were initiated under the ambitious Rs 1,134 crore World Bank funded HP Horticulture Development Project for getting the chemical registered in the country. The Centre gave permission for the import of chloropicrin.

The multi-location trials would be conducted in Shimla, Solan and Kullu districts during the current year. This would pave the way for registration of this chemical in India. This was one of the major initiatives by the state government which would especially benefit the apple growers of Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts where the orchards had become too old and senile and need immediate replacement with latest varieties and root stocks.

Sharma said it had been a matter of concern for farmers, extension officers and scientists that new plantations did not perform well owing to SARD that occurs when apple trees were planted in soil where similar species had been grown previously. SARD was not only limited to apple trees but it also affects roses and a number of other fruit trees, including cherry, citrus, peach, pear, plum and quince.