Perils of Ignoring Plant Quarantine: The Man Made Catastrophes!!

Abstract

With the increase in international trade, there has been an enhanced risk of introduction of exotic pests into our country. Plant quarantine is the first line of defense in plant protection which keeps these injurious pests away from our territory. When considering the present pest status in India, we can infer that a vast majority of them are mere introductions. Pathways of introduction of exotic pests may be either natural or human mediated. The consequences of these introductions are manifold including imbalance of native ecosystem, loss of biodiversity, transmission of dreadful diseases, creating genetic changes and threatening the existence of endangered species. All these adverse effects will lead to socioeconomic instability. Thus, the plant quarantine system in India is to be strengthened by various means like exotic pest surveillance, building up more infrastructural facilities, creating public awareness and formulating pest incursion management plans.