SHIMLA: Untimely rainfall, late snow, hail storm and persistent bad weather has caused losses of around Rs 90 crore to fruit growers in the state. Preliminary report prepared by the horticulture department has shown that apple crop suffered damage worth Rs 67 crore in Shimla district alone. With 20 to 30% less production likely this year, apple growers of Himachal are a worried lot.
Apple plays an important role in the economy of Himachal Pradesh with around nine districts out of total 12 producing the fruit. Apple economy is pegged at around Rs 2,500 crore and area under apple cultivation has increased from 400 hectares in 1950-51 to 3,025 hectares in 1960-61 and 1,01,485 hectares in 2010-11.
According to sources in horticulture department, preliminary report sought from seven districts shows a loss of around Rs 90 crore and apple crop suffered loss of around Rs 67 crore in Shimla district while in Mandi, loss is estimates at around Rs 2.37 crore.
In Kullu, fruit crop faced a loss of around Rs 9.44 crore. Sources said that the report was prepared from March to May 15 while another would be readied in June. Sources said that the report has been submitted to the state government. 'Temperature was not right to let the apple crop grow. Pollination is another factor which is again due to low temperature,'' said Rati Ram Chauhan, 82, orchard owner of Pronthi in Jubbal area of Shimla.
Associate director of regional horticulture and research station (RHR), B S Thakur, said that for flowering process, minimum 18 degrees temperature or up is required.
Horticulture minister Vidya Stokes said that better marketing of apple produce would be ensured this year so that growers get a better price. She said that the state government is contemplating to bring out amendments in "Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2005" and "Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture Produce Marketing (General) Amendment Rules, 2006", clearly specifying the weight and counts of apples for different packs.
She said that weight of apple, inclusive of packaging, should not be more than 22.5kg for bigger packs and 11kg for smaller packs irrespective of type of packaging to be used by growers.