HP to procure 'fair average quality apples'

Shimla, Aug 7 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government has given the approval for the implementation of Market Intervention Scheme for procurement of ''fair average quality apples''.

An official spokesman stated that the Market Intervention Scheme for Apple would be implemented in collaboration with the Central Government under which 54.500 MTs Apple fruits would be procured having diameter above 51 mm. Culled or damaged fruits, punctured scab, ethereal sprayed, immature or over mature and severely bruised fruits and pitto variety would not be accepted. However, ''fair average quality Apple fruits'' having slight hail damage, slight brushing, russeting, misshapen may be accepted, he added.

The spokesman said that the procurement price under the scheme would be Rs 5.25 per Kg. He said that the HPMC and HIMFED would be the procurement agencies and would be given the handling charges at the rate of Rs 1.50 with assumed returns of Rs 4 per kg.

He said that 2.5 per cent more fruits would be procured from the orchardists in view of evapo-transportation and respiration losses.

He further revealed that as many as 242 collection centers under the scheme would be opened at HPMC and HIMFED grading packing houses, godowns and field offices in low, mid and high altitude depending upon harvesting of fruits and as per requirement of different places.

He said that the fruits would be procured only from those farmers and orchardists who posses Horticulture Card and no fruit would be procured from the contractors.

UNI XC PS JS2001