Private participation in marketing fruits welcome, says CM

Shimla, Oct 20 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government has invited private participation in the marketing of agricultural produce and provide remunerative prices to the growers of the state.

Addressing a public meeting on the closing ceremony of seventh All India Volley-ball tournament at Kotkhai area of Shimla district, he said the entry of private players in marketing of agricultural produce would provide remunerative prices to the farmers.

Mr Singh said the entry of private player like Adani Group, Reliance and ITC in establishing cold chain groups and marketing infrastructure would help the farmers in selling their produce when they get high returns for them.

The state government's experiment of involving the private players in the marketing of apples this year had been a success and had helped the horticulturists in getting remunerative prices, he said.

He said the state government had created a vast network of agriculture markets down to the lowest level so that small growers could also sell their produce nearer their homes.

The network was being strengthened, upgraded and expanded to other areas to encourage other farmers to produce cash crops to strengthen their economy, he said.

The chief minister said his government had cleared the past liabilities of about Rs 22 crore under the market intervention scheme (MIS) due to the growers.

Mr Singh said Himachal was the first state in the country to introduce support price for the perishable commodities to help the growers maintain minimum price level in the market.

He said the support price was applicable uniformly to apple growers and citrus fruits growers of the lower hills of the state, reiterating his government's resolve to make Himachal the fruit bowl of India in coming years.

The Solan district of the state had emerged a leader in the cultivation of off-season vegetables, he said, while urging the farmers of the state to diversify their cropping system to ensure regular income from their farms.

Farmers need to derive maximum benefit from the limited land holdings in their possession while cultivating cash crops like off season vegetable, floriculture and herbi-culture, he said.

The chief minister also announced the upgradation of Government Girls High School, Kotkhai to Senior Secondary School and directed the authorities to make it functional as soon as possible.

UNI AS MIR VV2343