HP hikes procurement for apples, mangoes

Shimla, Jun 27 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Horticulture and Minister Singhi Ram today said the state government has decided to increase procurement price of apple, mango and other citrus fruits by 50 paise under the market intervention scheme (MIS) this year.

The new procurement price for Apple would be Rs. 4.75 per kg in comparison to Rs 4.25 per kg last year, Rs 4.08 per kg for Mango seedling as against Rs 3.58, Rs 4.75 per kg for grafted Mango as against the previous procurement price of Rs 4.25, he said in a release here.

Mr Ram said the procurement price for B grade Kinnow/Malta/Sangtra would be Rs 5.35 per kg as comparison to previous price of Rs 4.85 per kg.

The new procurement for grade C Kinnow/Malta/Sangtra would be Rs 4.75 per kg against a previous price of Rs 4.25 per, while the price for Galgal for all grades would be Rs 3.65 per kg against a previous price of Rs 3.15, he said.

Mr Ram said the decision to hike the MIS for the fruits would entail an annual additional burden of Rs 2.50 crore on the state exchequer.

The Himachal Government was implementing market intervention scheme for Apple, Mango and other citrus fruits to provide remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce, he said.

He said besides providing remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce it would also prevent their exploitation by middle-men.

Reiterating the state government's commitment for the welfare of the fruit growers, he said their interests were being safeguarded by the present Congress Government.

UNI