SHIMLA:   As the unregistered nursery growers are making fast bucks  by selling the uncertified apple plants, saplings and roots stocks and grafts to the gullible growers. Director Horticulture Dr. R.K. Pruthi today urged the  farmers to buy saplings only from the government and non-government fruit nurseries registered with the department.

He said that it has come to the notice of the department that fruit plants, rootstocks and saplings of fruit plants are being imported from other states in an unauthorised manner by the unregistered nursery growers. These are  being sold to the orchardists of the state at low prices.  He asked the farmers not to import and sell fruit plant material from outside the state in an unauthorized manner.

 Dr Pruthi said the department would take action against such persons under Himachal Pradesh Fruit Nursery Registration and Regulation Act, 2015 and Rules, 2020. Such practices are illegal because there is a possibility of spreading diseases and pests from plants imported from outside states and on the other hand fruit production also get affected, Pruthi said. 

He said that if any person and orchardist found selling uncertified fruit plants and cuttings without a license, strict action would be taken against them. For this, all the field officers/drawing and disbursing officers (Deputy Director Horticulture, Subject Matter Specialist and Horticulture Development Officer) are authorized to take necessary action as per section (23) of the Himachal Pradesh Fruit and Nursery Registration and Regulation Act, 2015.