Himachal Pradesh destroys 343,000 illegal apple plants

In Himachal Pradesh, the state government has destroyed 3.43 lakh illegal apple plants and rootstocks. Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi shared this information during a recent assembly session. This issue arose after Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore expressed concern about illegal imports from Italy and other countries. The apple industry in Himachal Pradesh is worth ₹5,000 crore and plays a crucial role in the state's economy. Rathore highlighted the risks posed by these illegal imports. He argued that the lack of proper quarantine measures could introduce viruses that threaten local apple crops. He suggested that indigenous apple varieties should be developed by the Horticulture University at Nauni. BJP MLA Balbir Singh Verma mentioned that the government had rules requiring a one-year quarantine for imported plants, but these rules are not being enforced. Negi mentioned that the imported plants are monitored in Punjab and Uttarakhand. He noted that 2.75 lakh plants were destroyed in the 2023-24 period, with an additional 68,000 destroyed in 2024-25. Negi also stated that the government is partnering with an Italian company to introduce high-yielding apple varieties. He promised to hold review meetings on research regarding indigenous apple varieties, as current efforts from the horticulture university have not yet produced results.