MAPUSA
The mushrooming of nurseries selling ornamental and fruit plants across the State has prompted the Agriculture Department to launch a statewide inspection drive to check whether such establishments have obtained the mandatory licence under the Goa Fruit and Ornamental Plants Nurseries (Regulation) Act, 1995.
The move assumes significance as nurseries have increasingly sprung up along roadsides and on agricultural fields that have remained uncultivated for years. While many cater to the growing demand for flowering, ornamental and fruit plants from households, hotels and other commercial establishments, departmental inspections have raised concerns over establishments operating outside the prescribed regulatory framework.
In Bardez alone, officials have so far identified 17 unregistered nurseries, mainly in and around Mapusa, Porvorim and Verla-Canca. Around 15 nurseries in the taluka have been found to be registered with the Agriculture Department.
Officials at the ZAO said inspections in Bardez are still underway and the number of unregistered establishments could increase.
“Some nurseries have trade licences from the respective panchayats or municipality, but have not registered with the Director of Agriculture. Registration under the Act is mandatory,” an Agriculture Department official said.
The department has also faced difficulties in tracing the owners of some nurseries. During inspections, officials found several establishments being managed by non-Goan caretakers while the owners were absent. In some cases, the caretakers were unable or unwilling to provide details of the owners.
“We were not able to trace who the owners were in some cases. The caretakers were hesitant to provide information. We have issued letters asking them to comply with the requirements,” the official said.
The issue also has a consumer angle. Buyers frequently purchase fruit and ornamental plants from roadside nurseries, only to find that the plants fail to survive or develop as expected after a few months.
While this does not by itself establish that the plants were misrepresented, the licensing framework is intended to regulate the quality and source of planting material sold by nurseries.
Under the law, licensed nurseries are required to maintain records relating to the source of plant material and parent plants, besides maintaining prescribed records of plants sold. The rules also require specified information to be displayed at nursery premises.
For registration, applicants have to submit the prescribed application along with documents including Form I and XIV, a survey plan, Aadhaar and PAN cards, a Krishi Card where applicable, a panchayat NOC, photographs of mother plants and a GST registration certificate.
The Agriculture Department’s statewide exercise is expected to establish the extent of unregulated nursery activity in Goa and bring operators functioning without the mandatory licence within the regulatory framework.
