Last Updated: 27 Dec 2023

Problem: Farmers defrauded by nurseries^[1]

Farmer realise about the fraud multiple years after he plants the saplings as the crop does not bear fruit because of pre-harvest disease

Solution^[1:1]

-- Tracking & Traceability of plants using QR codes
-- Strict punishment for nurseries on failure of the crop due to diseased saplings/seeds

Punjab becomes 1st state to start this Clean Plant Programme^[1:2]

¶ Features^[1:3]

Punjab framed the rules for enactment of the Punjab Fruit Nurseries (Amendment) Bill on 26 Dec 2023^[2]

The soil testing of the 23 nurseries in the state and root stock & mother plants has been started

• Nurseries will be accountable for supplying disease-free and pathogen-free planting material
• Failure of the crop will invite strict punishment for nurseries from where the seed/ sapling is sourced
• All nurseries in the state will now have to take a licence from the state government after their soil, root stock and mother plant has been tested for pathogens and other diseases
• The nurseries will then be forbidden to buy material grown outside the state and sell in Punjab

References:

---

1. https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/strict-legislation-for-nurseries-on-the-cards-in-punjab-485540 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

2. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=176571&headline=Minister-Jauramajra-releases-amended-New-Nursery-Rules-to-promote-Horticulture-in-Punjab  ↩︎