The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken action against corruption and illegal activities within India's agricultural horticulture sector, a move welcomed by the farming community. Farmers are now calling on the CBI to also investigate the unauthorized import of apple and other rootstock plants. They argue that many of these imports, part of the Rs 12.4 billion Horticulture Development project, are part of a scam, delivering substandard apple plants with high mortality rates.
This initiative aims to protect the Rs 50 billion apple industry from the introduction of catastrophic viruses. It has been reported that individuals are engaging in unauthorized trade, bypassing quarantine measures, and risking the introduction of viruses. On June 14, following the Uttarakhand High Court's orders and preliminary enquiry findings, the CBI executed raids across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, targeting those circumventing quarantine protocols.
Source: himbumail.com