In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) affected area means any area declared as such under section 3 ;
(b) “District Magistrate” includes any Gazetted Officer of the Government authorised by the District Magistrate to perform all or any of the functions of the District Magistrate under this Act ;
(c) “Inspecting Officer” means any Inspecting Officer appointed under section 13 ;
(d) “noxious weed” means any weed declared as such under section 3 ;
(e) “parasite” means any plant or animal carrying on its existence wholly or in part on any agricultural crop, plant, tree, bush or herb and declared to be a parasite under section 3 ;
(f) “occupier” means the person having for the time being the right of occupation of any land, water or premises, or his authorised agent or any person in actual occupation of the land, water or premises ;
(g) “pest” means any insect, invertebrate animal (including any other animal organism and declared to be a pest under section 3) ;
(h) “plant” includes all horticultural or agricultural crops, trees, bushes or herbs and also includes the seed, fruit, leaves, trunk, roots, bark or cutting or part thereof ;
(i) “plant disease” means any fungoid, bacterial, virus, vegetable organism, parasitical or other disease, declared to be a plant disease under section 3 ; and
(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.