Himachal apple growers seek MIS rates on par with Kashmir

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 28

“The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) should procure apple from Himachal through the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and at rates on par with Kashmir,” said Harish Chauhan, president, Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Growers’ Association of Himachal Pradesh.

Raising the demand, Chauhan also brought out the anomaly in the prices offered to the growers of the two states through MIS. “Even though the scheme is same, Kashmiri apple growers get Rs 24for their Grade C variety,while their counterparts in Himachal get only Rs 9.50. The difference is huge.” he said.

Not just Grade C, NAFED also buys Grade A and Grade B apple in Kashmir. In Himachal, the MIS is applicable only to Grade C apple. Chauhan said last year, NAFED offered Rs 60 per kg, Rs 44 and Rs 24 for Grade A, B and C, respectively, to Kashmiri growers. “At the moment, only Grade C apple is bought through the MIS in Himachal. Like in Kashmir, Grade A and Grade B apple should also be bought through this scheme here as well,” he added.

Chauhan further said if the MIS was applied on similar lines as in Kashmir, it would exert some check and control on private players operating in the state. “The private companies fix rates, colour grading and sorting system in an arbitrary manner, with no intervention or participation of farmers and government officials.”

“If we have a robust MIS scheme offering competitive rates, the growerswill be saved from being exploited,” he added.