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/ India News / 2007 / September 2007 / September 3, 2007 Himachal apple growers expect bumper crop this year |
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Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh expect a bumper crop of around 350,000 metric tonnes during the 2007 crop season.
Kullu, Sept 3 : Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh expect a bumper crop of around 350,000 metric tonnes during the 2007 crop season.
Orchards across the picturesque Kullu Valley in the State, known as the apple bowl of India, are in full bloom.
Although, a month is left for the season to end, Kullu has already produced around 118,000 metric tonnes of apples, which is double the production during 2006.
"There has been hailstorm in few areas, which has affected the quality of production. However, there is still a month left before the season ends," said Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Department Deputy-Director Basant Lal.
"So far 35-40 percent of total apple production has gone to the market and 250 trucks loaded with apples are being sent daily from Kullu District alone," he added.
Apples are sorted and packed before being sent to markets across the country, mainly to Delhi, Gujarat and Punjab.
"Last year around 2,000 boxes of apples were sent, but this year the production is good and we hope to send 3000-3500 boxes. After packaging, we send the apples to small markets like Delhi and to bigger ones in Punjab," said Kesh Ram, an apple grower.
Farmers say even though the production has doubled, expenses on packing and transport reduce the profit margin.
"Compared to last year, the production has doubled. As it has rained well, apples are bigger in size and we are getting good rates. But the boxes are expensive and the transport fare has increased, so our profit level goes down," said Tirth Ram, another apple grower.
Apple industry is a major source of employment for the hill State. The industry having an annual production worth over Rs 12 billion gives employment to about 1.2 million people.
Apple is cultivated on 94,0000 hectares of land in Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh is the largest producer of different varieties of apples in the country. Last year, the State had produced 540,000 tonnes of apple.
Shimla and Kullu Districts contribute 70 percent to the State's total production.
ANI
