Apple Festival in Shimla, Chandigarh

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 28

The state government has decided to organise Apple Festivals in Chandigarh, Shimla and Delhi to showcase Himachali apples and other organic produce out of the state.

A decision was taken during a meeting held here yesterday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary VC Pharka regarding the organisation of Apple Festival. It was decided to organise Apple Festival in Shimla in the third week of September and in New Delhi and Himachal Bhawan, Chandigarh, in the second and thirds weeks of October.

Pharka said the main purpose of organising this festival was to educate people about various varieties and quality of apple being produced in Himachal Pradesh, which had emerged as a fruit bowl of the country.

Besides, special varieties of apple, organic crops like rajmah, mash etc. being produced would also be showcased during these festivals.

He said this would go a long way in promoting them among orchardists.

He said the apple cultivation had become the mainstay of over 1.7 lakh families as apple constituted about 49 per cent of the area under fruit crops and about 85 per cent of all fruit production. The apple cultivation was providing employment to millions of people of the region and the living standards of people had improved.

The Apple Festival will be organised by the Tourism Department in association with the HPMC, the HP Tourism Development Corporation, Horticulture and Agriculture departments.