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Plant quarantine desk at ZIA shutdown

By Inam Ahmed
Horticulture In Bangladesh has become susceptible to germs and diseases as the plant quarantine desk has been closed at the Zia International Airport (ZIA) arrival lounge.
According to concerned sources the desk has been closed from November 1 1 and since then incoming plants had not been checked for diseases or germs harmful to country’s Flora
The quarantine desk received plants for checking for the last time on the same date. On the day. the desk received cactus imported from Hong Kong. After that no plants have been sent for quarantine at the ZIA.
The decision to remove the plant quarantine desk was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting in October. The meeting presided over by the Finance Minister observed that as the real objectives of carrying out quarantine practices are not being fulfilled, the exercise would be stopped".
However, the meting was not participated by representa tives from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) as they were not invited.
Following the closer of the desk, the Agriculture Extension Department had enquired the MOA about the matter. The MOA asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) for clarification which in turn asked the Civil Aviation Authorities for explanation regarding the matter, sources said. However, reply is yet to come, according to the same sources.
At the ZIA quarantine desk, there had been 12 quarantine officers and an entomologist. After removal of the desk from I he customs lounge, the team
Is tK>w examining only agricultural cargo goods and issuing Phytosanltary Export Certificate on vegetables.
During 1992 alone, the desk checked 64 cases which include 234 plants. Of these 40 cases of contaminations were found with diseases like crlconesia, xlpherema. cer-cospora. dorylamoid, phyllos-tlcta, mealy bug and cep-halobold. Plants infected with these diseases were brought from India, Kuwait. Thailand. Greece. UK. Pakistan and Germany.
Meanwhile, scientists and agricultural experts feci that if the quarantine system is not imposed strictly, country's agriculture may face a great danger in the long run as foreign diseases will attack crops. They cited the example of Shri Lanka where "coffe rust" has endangered the coffee export of that country.
They further apprehended that Bangladesh's export may also suffer if the foreign countries come to know that quarantine law is not being properly enforced here.
It can be recalled that • speakers at a workshop on Plant Quarantine Regulations of Bangladesh held in collaboration with Danida and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) In April last year stressed the need for strengthening the quarantine system.
At present, there are In all eight quarantine stations at ZIA, Chittagong and Sylhet airports, Chittagong and Mongla Ports, Benapol, Darsana borders check posts and Nara-yanganj River Port.
There is also a plan to set up stations at Hili and Patgram borders land entry points.