HimVani
Shimla: To ensure best price for apple crop to about two lakh householders engaged in its cultivation across the state, Himachal Pradesh government has announced the ‘minimum sport price’ for the fruit under the Market Intervention Scheme.
Himachal Pradesh horticulture minister Narinder Bragta said that Himachal Pradesh Agro Marketing Federation (HIMFED) and Himachal Pradesh Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) would purchase the crop from selected market yards (about 48) from July 30 onwards.
Bragta disclosed that both agencies would procure apple at a minimum support price of Rs 5.25 per kilogram from farmers by retaining the last year rate. He said that apple crop purchased by HPMC and HIMFED from Jubbal-Kotkhai and Rohru area of this district would be sold at Kandranu situated on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the newly opened market for the first time on trial basis.
A departmental committee would shortly visit Kandranu, Kuddu and Aati area of Jubbal-Kotkhai tehsil to select markets there. Officers of HPMC, HIMFED and horticulture department would visit fruit growing areas jointly to ensure setting up of fruit procurement centres in these areas.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the state government has also been procuring mango under MIS from July 1 onwards and it would continue till August 15. The procurement price for grafted mango varieties has been fixed at Rs 5.25 per kg and for seedling mango Rs 4.58 per kg. Procurement is being done through HPMC, HIMFED and HP Agro Industries Corporation.
