Himachal Pradesh to grow American apple trees

Shimla, Feb 20 9ANI): Himachal Pradesh is planning grow apple varieties imported from the United States. The state horticulture department is distributing root stock plants to orchard owners for a better yield of the fruit in the state.

Horticulture department officials said the American varieties would bring an apple revolution in the state as these varieties are disease resistant and have good yield of apples on maturity.

"As per our technical mission we are giving the farmers the new apple stems which have a good yield, are diseases resistant and meet international standards in quality," said Narendra Bragta, horticulture minister.

Nearly seventeen thousand American apple plants like Scarlet spur, Oregon spur, Gale Gala, golden delicious, Gibson golden, early red and B-7-11 have been distributed among the farmers so far.

"We have around 8-9 varieties of the plants here from the United States. They are being distributed to the people and some of the varieties include Gale Gala and B-7-11, which is said to be successful at the height of 4500-5500 feet above the sea level. There is a lot of rush going on to get these varieties but only time will tell if they succeed in the Indian conditions," said Chaman, a farmer.

About 180,000 hectares of land is under apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh with an average yield is 5.50 metric tonnes per hectare.

Apple fruit being the important cash crop of Shimla, Sirmaur,Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur and Mandi districts. By Hemant Chauhan (ANI)