Ahead of the apple season that begins in July in Himachal Pradesh, over one lakh orchardist families have suffered a setback. The Horticulture Minister had assured not to increase the price of apple cartons during the Corona period, but the companies have increased the price of the carton by five to 10 rupees, arguing that raw material and paper are expensive.
After a long exercise, the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Legislation and Marketing Corporation (HPMC) has fixed the prices on Monday. The rates have been fixed at Rs 60 to 70 per 20 kg white carton. Cartons of brown paper will be available to the gardeners for Rs 54 to 62.
Last year, companies made white cartons available for Rs 55-60 and brown cartons for Rs 47-58. However, this time also a bundle of hundred trays of apple packing will be sold for Rs 550 only. Last year HPMC provided 350 lakh cartons. This time HPMC has entrusted the work of supply of cartons to 17 companies. Last year 24 companies had sold cartons. There was no increase in the rate of cartons last year.
Carton supply has been entrusted to 17 companies. This time the rates of cartons have increased by five to 10 rupees. Companies say that raw materials, especially paper, have become expensive- Rajeshwar Goyal, HPMC Managing Director
Expected to produce four crore boxes of apples
Last year the apple crop was less. There are estimated to be about 40 million boxes of apples this year, which is considered good. However, before the start of the season, the apple growers of the state have also been hit by snowfall and hail. It has caused a lot of damage.
This time the truck fare will also increase
Due to the cost of diesel, now the truck owner is preparing to increase the freight of apple by 15 percent. Pratap Chauhan, president of the Kotkhai Truck Owners Union, says that the fare has not increased for three years.
Gardeners said - the system of selling apples in crates is beneficial, but the state government should make solid preparations
During the apple season, the government s announcement of selling apples in crates in five mandis of the state has been termed as beneficial by the horticulturists of Shimla district. Along with this, a demand has been raised to make concrete preparations for this. Gardeners say that the government should make available crates on subsidy and there should be a necessary wait for it in the mandis too. Deepak Chauhan, the gardener of Tikkar Sharontha, says that selling apples in crates instead of cartons will reduce labor costs by half.
The gardeners who spend two lakhs on labor annually will have to spend only one lakh, but the government should make all the necessary preparations to implement this system. Sunil Sharma, gardener of Kotkhai Himri Barog, says that the system of selling apples in crates is beneficial for small and medium gardeners. By doing this, the cost will be saved and the right price for the produce will also be available. Rajesh Mehta, the gardener of Kotkhai, says that this decision of the government is in the interest of the gardeners, but the government will also have to make concrete arrangements for this.
Crates should be made available to the gardeners on subsidy. Labor problem will also get rid of during the season. Gardener Neeraj Thakur, a resident of Baga, Kotkhai, says that at present, big gardeners get good prices in the mandis, while small Bhagwans do not get that much benefit. On selling apples in the crate, you will get money according to the weight. Vishal Vecta, a young gardener from Chaila Banahar, says that in Kullu, apples are sold in crates for the last several years.
Packing apples in crates is easy. Apples are also imported into India from Iran by putting plastic trays in the crates. Manoj Chauhan, a gardener of Bakhol Kotkhai, says that labor costs will be saved by selling apples in crates. With the arrival of fresh goods in the market, the gardeners will get better rates. The government should immediately make all necessary arrangements for selling apples in crates.
Anupal Chauhan, chief advisor of Arhtiya Association, says that selling apples in crates is in the interest of all three - the gardener, the arhtiya and the buyer. 200 to 300 rupees per box will be saved for the gardeners. There will be transparency in the purchase and sale of goods in the mandis. The buyer will not need a store. The government should implement the system of selling apples in crates as soon as possible.
This news has not been edited by Apni Kheti staff but has been published by various news feeds
Source: Amar Ujala
