Himalayan Times (1961)

SI CO MAR 30 J961

jjtmaiapatt Etnus

A NEWS WEEKLY PUBLISHED EVERY SUNDAY

VOL. XIV JANUARY 22, 1961. NO. XXIIL

STATE GOYT.'S WART-IMMUNE SEED POTATO ^.S-

SCHEME MAY END IN FAILURE In&tLrTXS tb£y?«

Wart Immune seeds of

s ' (From Our Correspondent) the highest quality would

parjeeling,' January 18. -; .'■ . be supplied to grower*.

Meanwhile, potato seeds

A few year* ago a area with wart-immune., given to farmers at Rangli

peculiar disease known as varieties. For this purpose. "■■ Kangliot last October by

"Wart disease'' which Government had imported Seed Multiplication Farms,

affects seed potatoes, wart-immune varieties of suddenly began develop-

was imported to this dis- seed-potatoes from over- ing strange symptoms,

trict. This is a very oon. seas markets, particular- , P'»nts began to wither

tagious • disease, which Holland These seedB were and die' for. no ostensible

though noL harmful to being multiplied at the reason. Very recently, the

human beings reduces the Government Seed Farms Special Officer Potatoes,

productivity ol seed pota at Rungbul and Bhanjang, VVest Bengal Government,

toes. The Centre had in for eventual distribution had uome tfr Darjeeling.

view of the seriousnefs of to. growers. He was taken round the

the disease and its effects According to Sri Deo affected areas but oould

on production, prolnb.ted Prakash Bai. M.I..A., Pre- not give any valid ex-

export of et-t d potatoes to sident of the Darjeelino: planation for this strange

artas outside this district Potato Growers and Dealers malady. •

unless it was eertified to Association," the two Go- A few days ago,about

be Wart-Immune by Go- vernment Farms had last 460 rnaunde of seed-no.

vernment experts, year supplied about 750 tatoes multiplied at the

The Seed potato is maunds of seed-potatoes Rangbul Farm was sent

one of the most important to farmers, at the high to Bijonbari. The seed

cash orops of not only oost of Rs. 26/-per niaund. potatoes were -found in

Darjeeling, but Sikkim as Of this, Mr. Rai claims, ""oh bad • oondition that

well. Government had 8)% proved wholly us. farmers totally refused to

therefore formulated, a *ucoes>lul. The matter accept them and. the

M-herne known as "Wart- was so serious that it whole consignment had to

Immune Seed Potato was discussed at the be re-booked to the Farm,

weobeme" whereby it even- District Development 'Hie seeds had deoompos-

Mually Intended to flood Council Meeting held on ed and withered due to

Ohe entire potato growing December 29, 1960. The ( Continued on puge 3)

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