Chetan Singh Jauramajra releases amended new nursery rules to promote horticulture in the state

Chandigarh: Punjab Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra, on Tuesday, released new nursery rules (amended) to promote horticulture in the state.

Following the issuance of these rules at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, the Cabinet Minister highlighted that the nurseries now have a two-year timeline to produce true-to-type seedlings, and are mandated to plant these saplings in mother plant and bud stick nurseries. Apart from this, nursery owners are obligated to ensure traceability of these plants.

S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra emphasized that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government have taken a pioneering step in the country by amending the Punjab Fruit Nursery Act, 1961, ahead of other states.

Highlighting other points, the Cabinet Minister said that under this new nursery act (amended), nursery owners are required to cultivate virus-free seedlings. In case of vegetable nursery production, the licence is mandatory, but the source and quality of produce shall be governed under the Seed Act 1966 (central act 54 of 1966), said the Minister, adding that all the registered horticulture nurseries shall be given a period of two years to fulfil the conditions or requirements laid under the Act from the date of commencement of these rules.

In the said rules, after rule 6, the following shall be substituted, namely: Provided further that in case the licence is cancelled or suspended, the plants shall be destroyed by the competent authority or any other person authorized by him but not below the rank of the Horticulture Development Officer. The competent authority shall order the licensee to uproot the rootstock seedlings and the grafted plants or cultivars and on his refusal to do so, shall engage the manual labour or tractor to uproot or plough the field of the licensee.

The Cabinet Minister said that under section 9 (Amended), the nurseries have to be registered as horticulture nursery (Fruit, vegetable, seedlings etc. except cross or open pollinated varieties) under the Seed Certification Agency (till separate Horticulture Certification Agency is formed) and the registration fee of rupees one thousand shall be deposited in the account of Seed Certification Agency (till separate Horticulture Certification Agency is formed) and an application in Form X shall be filled at the time of applying or renewal of the nursery licence. The Seed Certification Agency (till separate Horticulture Certification Agency is formed) shall issue a certificate to the licensee of the nursery. The licensee shall display this certificate at a prominent place in his nursery. The inspections shall be made time to time by the Seed Certification Agency (till separate Horticulture Certification Agency is formed), as per Form XI, XII and XIII and a fee of rupees five thousand per annum per nursery shall be charged and deposited in the account of Seed Certification Agency (till separate Horticulture Certification Agency is formed). The Horticulture Certification Agency shall be either part of the Seed Certification Agency or be an independent entity under section 8 of the Seeds Act, 1966. The Joint Director, Horticulture, one Deputy Director, Horticulture, two Assistant Director, Horticulture and the Nodal Officer (Nurseries) of the Department of Horticulture, Punjab may be nominated or sent on deputation in the Horticulture.

He informed that the nurseries have to obtain traceability tag (for budded or grafted or cutting except cross or open pollinated varieties) and for vegetable nursery (hybrid or self pollinated varieties), the owner of nursery have to fulfil all the provisions of the Seed Act, 1966. Then, on the basis of the inspections made by the Seed Certification Agency (till separate Horticulture Certification Agency is formed) or the competent authority shall issue tags with QR code in Form XIV mentioning name of the nursery, name of scion or rootstock, variety. An amount of rupees five or actual cost of the tag (whichever is higher) per plant shall be charged as cost of tag. The amount shall be deposited in the account of the Seed Certification Agency (till separate Horticulture Certification Agency is formed). The competent authority may revise the rate of tag as and when required.

Prominent amongst others who were present on this occasion included Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur and Assistant Director Dr. Harpreet Singh.