Date:08/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/08/stories/2008080856010800.htm

National

Himachal to procure 55 metric tons of apples

Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA: The Himachal Government has given its approval for the implementation of Market Intervention Scheme for procurement of "fair average quality apples" this year in the State, said an official spokesman here on Thursday.

Conditions

Under the scheme, at least 55 Metric tons of apple would be procured on the conditions that the fruit must have a minimum diameter of 51 mm, it must not be culled, damaged, punctured or sprayed with ether.

Procurement agencies

The spokesperson said the procurement price under the scheme would be Rs.5.25 per kg. He said that HPMC and HIMFED, the procurement agencies, would be given the handling charges of Rs.1.50 with assumed returns of Rs.4.00 per kg.

He further revealed that as many as 242 collection centres under the scheme would be opened at HPMC and HIMFED grading and packing houses and Godowns field offices on low, mid and high altitude depending upon harvesting of fruits and local requirement.

Horticulture card, a must

He said that the fruits would be procured only from those farmers who posses horticulture card and no fruit would be procured from the contractors.