BP Singh

42 1l.K. MathurWhat is Plant QuarantinePlant Quarantine can be defined as legal enforcement ofmeasures aimed to prevent pests and pathogens from spreading,or to prevent them from multiplying further in case they havealready found entry and have established in a new restricted area.Although it is difficult to predict how an introduced pest willbehave, if it gets established, in a new location and environment,but there is a distinct possibility that freed from its natural enemiesand competitors and with possibly more susceptible hostsavailable, pest in a new environment may have more deleteriouseffect than in its place of origin. Though plant quarantine measuresmay not' guarantee an everlasting protection against the entry ofexotic species but will certainly check or delay the introduction ofthese unwanted organisms and their subsequent establishment inhitherto clean areas.' Therefore, practicing IPlant Quarantine' i.e.protection of plants by observing quarantine measures will go along way in protecting our agriculture from the ravages of exoticpests and diseases and also from those which are not present inthat area.Plant Quarantine is in effect a national service provided bythe Central Govt./State Govts. for the benefit of the farmers. Ashas been rightly stated by Mathys (1975) "Government quarantineoffers services which are beyond the capabilities of individualbeneficiaries or that are difficult to obtain in some other way at alesser cost."Analysis of the pest risk involved in germplasm introductionThis is an important aspect to be taken into consideration bythe quarantine officials in the germplasm introduction as itprovides a sound biological basis to decide quarantine policies. Ifrisks are low, quarantine should be ~ in permitting entry butif the risks are high, the material may even be cl.e:cied entry. Thepest risk analysis should take into account the benefits that arelikely to accrue from the introduction of the planting materialunder reference, cost of quarantine inspection, treatment includingdetention in post-entry quarantine facility as well as cost oferadication, should an exotic pest get established. It should alsoconsider factors such as availability of trained staff, efficaciousdetection techniques, treatments, knowledge about the life cycle of