Identify gaps before inking pact for Rs1,000-cr WB project: CM

SHIMLA: Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today directed all stakeholders to form a high-level committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary, Horticulture, Tarun Shridhar, to identify gaps before signing an MoU with Pip Fruit of New Zealand for the Rs 1,000 crore World Bank horticulture project.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh presides over a meeting with a delegation of Pip Fruit, New Zealand, in Shimla on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 25

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today directed all stakeholders to form a high-level committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary, Horticulture, Tarun Shridhar, to identify gaps before signing an MoU with Pip Fruit of New Zealand for the Rs 1,000 crore World Bank horticulture project.

This decision followed after the Chief Minister chaired a meeting with a delegation led by Mike Petersan, a special agricultural envoy of the New Zealand government here today.

It was attended by Horticulture Minister Vidya Stokes, Tarun Shridhar, mission director, World Bank horticulture project Jagdish C Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Horticulture University, Nauni, Dr Vijay Thakur, Vice-Chairman, HPMC, Prakash Thakur, and delegates from Pip Fruit.

He further said Himachal apple and stone fruit farmers would be benefited as New Zealand produced 57 tonnes of apple per hectare, largest in the world. Since apple contributed to 90 per cent output in fruit production in the state, state aimed at introducing new varieties of apple to benefit the producers, he added.

He said the state had taken strides in agriculture, horticulture, organic fertilisers, pesticide management and introducing new varieties of apple. Himachal and New Zealand will sign MoU next year.

Peterson said New Zealand sought partnerships with Himachal Pradesh in fruit, dairy, education and hydropower sectors as it had good research institutes for rejuvenation of the horticulture sector. They were keen that they visited New Zealand and had interaction with progressive farmers there, he added.

Tarun Shridhar said, “We are importing root stocks. The reforms in the horticulture sector are under way. New areas will be explored for growing apples”, he added.

MD, HPMC-cum- mission director, JC Sharma said the Pip Fruit had helped prepared project implementation plan. The reputed agencies would be invited through international bidding route to implement various component of the project, he added.

Dr Vijay Thakur said 28 types of fruits were being produced in the state and 10 more fruits would be introduced in the coming years to increase fruit output.