Dhumal assures to protect interests of horticulturists

Shimla, Mar 24 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said his government was committed to protect the interests of the fruit growers by providing best services to improve the quality and quantity of their produce.

Addressing a large delegation from Jubbal and Kotkhai area of this district here, he said possibilities would be explored to create required infrastructure to help horticulturists sell their products at remunerative prices within the state.

Referring to his previous tenure, Mr Dhumal said the then government had set up cider wineries in Shimla and Mandi districts to produce fruit wine.

He said high yielding early varieties of the quality root stock would be imported to increase production and improve the fruit quality.

Emphasising the need to adopt multi-cropping pattern to generate additional income, he said his government would extend all possible help to the growers to increase their income.

Banning import of apple could be one of the ways to protect the interest of the horticulturists, he said and added that procurement under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) was one of the steps directed towards ensuring minimum market price to the fruit growers.

The Chief Minister said Himachal had varied agro-climatic conditions and was conducive to grow almost all types of cash crops, which if explored scientifically, could multiply the income of the farmers.

The delegation was led was state Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta.

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