Apple growers hold protest in Mandi’s Balichowki

Mandi, July 19

Alleging that transportation charges for the fruit across the state were set arbitrarily, apple growers took out a protest march at Balichowki in Mandi district yesterday.

They handed over a memorandum to Horticulture, Revenue and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi, through the Subdivisional Officer (Civil) of Balichowki.

The apple growers demanded that, apple purchase should be based on the universal carton system, limiting the weight below 20 kg, against the earlier practice when telescopic cartons weighing 30 to 35 kg were used. They suggested that the transportation charges should be determined on per kg and km basis.

Mahender Rana, an office-bearer of Apple Growers’ Association, stated that, “We want implementation of the Market Intervention Scheme akin to Kashmir, besides 100% import duty on apples.”

The apple growers also insisted on strict enforcement of the APMC Act and HP Goods and Passenger Transport Act, 2006, in state markets. They demanded prompt payment by the Himachal Pradesh Marketing Corporation (HPMC) for apple produce procured from the apple growers and immediate settlement of outstanding payments to them from buyers. They also called for appropriate action against defaulters.

The apple growers stressed immediate subsidy payment for fertilisers, pesticides, tools, etc. They demanded swift compensation to the growers for the damage to the crop by hailstorm, snowfall and other natural calamities. They also sought legal guarantee on minimum support price for apple. The apple growers called for immediate steps to establish controlled atmosphere stores in the Balichowki area for apple procurement centres.