Lack of quarantine facilities threat to biodiversity
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KOCHI: Lack of plant quarantine facility in airports in the state is posing a threat to the state biodiversity
as there is no proper monitoring of the kinds of plants and seeds
entering the state. This is despite the state having three international
airports and Keralites over the years becoming big time collectors and
owners of ornamental plants.
"We are seeing a new disease in the orchids that were brought in from Thailand recently. All the buds in plant are turning yellow and falling off before they turn into flowers," said Mercy, who had brought a new set of imported orchids recently. "I have been maintaining plants for several years now. This is a new disease and it is destroying the plants. I am afraid it will affect the rest of my plants also."
When she contacted botanists, they told her that this could be a disease that was probably controlled in that country but found a new lease of life in Kerala where the climate is similar to that of Thailand.
All the major consignments coming in for plant importers are checked at the Chennai airport after which it is put on the flight to Kerala. "There are very strict rules on how the plants should be handled when they are brought from outside," said P K Rajeevan, head, department of floriculture, Kerala agriculture university ( KAU), Thrissur.
He said that according to rules, the importers had to keep all the plants under watch for two-three months before it could be released.
There are about 2,000 registered nurseries in the state but the actual number is much more as people operate it from their homes. Of these, around 25 nurseries are large players and importers of plants, trees and flowers.
"We are having a quarantine facility in the port and seek their help if there are any cases. We have a panel of experts in the field who are called in to look at the plants, flowers, seeds etc," said C Madhavan, deputy commissioner, airport customs, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).
Many would remember the white spongy disease which wiped out papaya trees and hibiscus trees in central Kerala a couple of years ago. Whether this is one such invasion, is something we need to wait and watch.
"We are seeing a new disease in the orchids that were brought in from Thailand recently. All the buds in plant are turning yellow and falling off before they turn into flowers," said Mercy, who had brought a new set of imported orchids recently. "I have been maintaining plants for several years now. This is a new disease and it is destroying the plants. I am afraid it will affect the rest of my plants also."
When she contacted botanists, they told her that this could be a disease that was probably controlled in that country but found a new lease of life in Kerala where the climate is similar to that of Thailand.
All the major consignments coming in for plant importers are checked at the Chennai airport after which it is put on the flight to Kerala. "There are very strict rules on how the plants should be handled when they are brought from outside," said P K Rajeevan, head, department of floriculture, Kerala agriculture university ( KAU), Thrissur.
He said that according to rules, the importers had to keep all the plants under watch for two-three months before it could be released.
There are about 2,000 registered nurseries in the state but the actual number is much more as people operate it from their homes. Of these, around 25 nurseries are large players and importers of plants, trees and flowers.
"We are having a quarantine facility in the port and seek their help if there are any cases. We have a panel of experts in the field who are called in to look at the plants, flowers, seeds etc," said C Madhavan, deputy commissioner, airport customs, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).
Many would remember the white spongy disease which wiped out papaya trees and hibiscus trees in central Kerala a couple of years ago. Whether this is one such invasion, is something we need to wait and watch.
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