'Imported apple plants may bring diseases'

Himachal Pradesh farmers are worried as the latest apple varieties may bring in two serious diseases into orchards and threaten extensive damage.

Although the Indian government has laid down guidelines to quarantine imported young plants infected by serious diseases such as codling moth and fire blight.

"If government and private suppliers of the latest imported apple varieties do not follow the strict screening it could spell disaster in orchars here," warned K D Verma, a horticulture scientist and farmer here on Tuesday.

"Western countries are very advanced in apple farming but, like us, they are also battling with codling moth and fire blight diseases. If not screened properly it could be very risky," said Verma.

He said the government needs to hold more awareness campaigns about taking precautions before buying imported young apple trees.