Growers of apple rue non-declaration of rates

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 22

Farmers have resented that Adani’s Farm-Pik, which runs three major cold stores in the apple belt, has not declared its rates this season. However, two private companies in Guma and Jarol Tikkar have started buying apples from farmers at Rs 85 and Rs 83 per kg, respectively, for the top quality. “It has come in handy for farmers who have harvested the crop, but cannot sell it in outside markets due to the spate of floods in the plains,” said Sandeep Kumar, a farmer from Theog.

“Adani’s Farm-Pik runs three major atmospheric controlled stores (CAS) in Sainj, Rohru and Bithal, but has not announced the rates this season,” rued a farmer.

Similarly, Him Agri Fresh Private Limited, which has opened 5,100-MT capacity CAS store at Balghar in the Theog tehsil, had not even opened shutters this years, leave alone declaring rates for the crop, the farmers said.

Thereby farmers are selling their produce in local markets at Parala, Rohru, Narkanda, Dhalli, Solan and Parwanoo in the Shimla region and Bandrol and Takoli in the Mandi-Kullu belt.

“The Adani should have declared the rates in early August than waiting for markets to crash so that the company can buy apples at throwaway prices from farmers,” said Dinesh Singha, a farmer from Dalash-Jaban.

“We are selling the fruit in Parala market, which has emerged as a good market for farmers from Chopal, Theog, Jubbal-Kotkhai,” he added.

HPMC vice-chairman Prakash Thakur said the Adani, like other companies, were duty-bound to declare rates on time as CAS stores were set up with an aim at providing stable markets and storage facility for apples at a reasonable rate. “More than 43 lakh apple cartons have been exported from the state, yet the company has not declared its rates,” he added.

Sanjay Mahajan, general manager, Adani’s Farm-Pik, claimed that the company would declare its rates this week or so as the apple season in the higher altitudes was yet to start.