Apple growers for cold store at Karsog

Dipender Manta

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Tribune News Service

Mandi, July 21

Apple growers in Mandi district are urging the state government to set up a compressed atmospheric (CA) store and a fruit processing unit at Karsog.

The growers said during the peak apple season, the price of the produce came down sharply and they had no option but to sell the crop at a low price as there was no facility of a CA store in the region, where they could store their produce for some period until the market price stabilised.

In Mandi, the Karsog region is the biggest producer of apple, followed by Janjehli, Gohar and Sundernagar. According to the data provided by the Horticulture Department this year, 18,000 metric tonne of apple produce is expected from Karsog, while 14,500 metric tonne from Janjehli, 600 metric tonne from Gohar and 827 metric tonne from Sundernagar. The orchardists feel that there is a dire need of a CA store and a fruit processing unit.

Nihal Singh, an apple orchardist of Karsog, said the valley was known for its apple cultivation. The economy of the region was dependent on the apple produce.

“During the peak season, the farmers feel the need of a CA store, as they are not able to reap the benefit of the produce. In the absence of a CA store, we have no other option but to sell our produce at low prices.” he added.

The farmers said to preserve the perishable crop for a longer period of time, the government should set up a CA store at Karsog.

Amar Prakash Gupta, Deputy Director, Horticulture Department, Mandi, said the matter was under consideration. The government is planning to set up two CA stores in Mandi district— one at Karsog and another at Janjehli — to facilitate the apple growers.

He said the land had been identified to set up a CA store at Karsog, while process was on to identify land at Janjehli for the purpose.