Himalayan Times (1959)

Eight

Deoember 13, 1959

the appearance ofoertain
seed-born* diseases on the
orop and various prophy.
laotio treatments in stor-
age godowna to prevent
the milltiplioition of pests.
Resistant varieties have
not always been easy to
evolve and have generally
not maintained their qua*
lity of resistance over
large periods or areas.
During the past few years,
eeed treatment has been
increasingly popular in
India.

Plant Quarantine

Every country has
its own pesta and disraaee,
depending on the crops
it grows Some of the
pests and disease* are
widespread in the world,
but many others are res
trie tad to apeoifio coun-
tries or regions Some
of the latter may be
oarried from one country
to another on plants and
plant materials in the
normal oourae of inter-
national trade and traffic.
It has happened many a
time that a new peat or
a disease has been thus
introduced into aonuntry
where it did not oxi't
before but where it hen
multiplied aud spread and
oaused enormous damsge
to the crops of the coun-
try. Every oountry-go-
varnraent, therefore, en-
deavours to protect its
agricultural economy by
prohibiting or restricting
the import of plants and

plant materials which
introduce new pests or
diseases inte it. This is
what is known aa plant
quarantine. Like other
countriea, India also has
developed its plant qua-
rantine facilities by estab-
lishing stations at its
various seaports and Air-
ports.

In; 1951, the Food
and Agriculture Organi-
sation of the United Na-
tions - sponsored an Inter-
national Plant Protection
Convention and invited
member governments to
adhere to it. which the
Government of India did
in 1952 Under one of
the articles of the Con-
vention, a Plant Protec-
tion Agreement for South
East Asia and Pacific
Region cnm« into force
in July 11)">0 when India
also became a signatory
to it

Locusts

Periodic locust plagues
have b*en recorded in
India since about the
beginning of the 19th
century, though their de-
predations have been
known from much esrlier
times. The desert locust,
which has damogad crops
in India, is endemioally
distributed in a vast belt
of desert and Bemi.desert
regions extending from
Rajasthan in the east to
the west coast of Africa.
Sixtyfour territciies and
administrations and one-

eighth of tbe world's
population are affeoted
by the plaguea of the
desert locust. India along
with other countries has
taken various steps to
combat the menace of
the locusts. A permanent
anti-locust organiaatitn of
the Government of India
has been functioning in
the desert areas of Raj-
asthan, Bombay and
Punjab States since 1939
and its main lark haa
been to keep a watch
over ths fluctuating po-
pulations and the beha-
viour of the loousta and
to adopt requiird mea-
unit to keep them in
check, because even when
locuat aweime are not
commonly aern I be locusts
live and brerd in the
deserts as individual in-
sects. Indie has actively
collaborated with other
countries and the FAO
in minimising the risks
of locust plagues arising.

Efforts to Popularise
Plant Protection

During the periods
of the First and the Se-
cond Five Year Plana,
various measures have
been taken by the Cen-
tral and tbe Mate Govern-
ments to extend and in-
tensify measures for pest
and disease control so as
to reduce damage to crops
and save losses, Sprayirg
and rtustine machines and
pesticides have bern di»
tributed to farmers at

h