Himachal Pradesh Apple Season Thrives Amid Heavy Rains and Road Damage
Heavy rains battered Himachal Pradesh, causing widespread road damage, but the state’s apple growers are still seeing a bumper harvest. The government announced that 1.73 crore boxes of 20 kg apples each have made it to markets this season—a big jump from 1.23 crore boxes at this time last year.
Despite the challenges, officials quickly fixed damaged roads or set up temporary routes to keep apple transportation smooth. "Our teams worked non-stop, even at the height of the damage, to help apple growers get their produce out," a government spokesperson shared.
Breaking down the numbers, sales from the Shimla and Kinnaur districts’ APMC markets hit 1.09 crore boxes, up from 77.40 lakh last year. Mandi’s APMC sold 16.81 lakh boxes, compared to 8.92 lakh in 2023. Solan’s market saw 24.91 lakh boxes sold, rising from 22.19 lakh, while Kullu’s APMC recorded 20.88 lakh boxes against 14.03 lakh last year. These figures show how Himachal apple production is bouncing back strong.
The government didn’t stop at just roads—they’re also supporting growers through the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). The Himachal Pradesh Marketing Corporation (HPMC) has procured over 55,000 metric tonnes of apples so far, more than double last year’s amount. To make this happen, HPMC opened 274 collection centres across the state. Their processing plants in Parala (Shimla), Parwanoo (Solan), and Jarol (Mandi) are handling nearly 400 tonnes of apples every day.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighted the efforts, saying, "We’re fully committed to protecting apple growers’ interests and their livelihoods. We’ve rolled out the Universal Carton system to ensure fair prices and stop any exploitation of our horticulturists."
Even with tough weather, Himachal Pradesh’s apple industry is proving resilient, bringing hope and better earnings to thousands of farmers in this key apple-growing region.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
