Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for digital apple procurement

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday directed the officials concerned to make necessary arrangements before apple procurement begins under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) so that growers do not face inconvenience.

Reviewing various schemes of the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) in a meeting here on Wednesday evening, the Chief Minister said the state government was committed to ensuring the welfare of apple growers, especially small and marginal farmers.

He emphasised the need to digitise the functioning of the HPMC, telling the officials concerned to ensure that, from the next season, the entire procurement process was digitised to ensure transparency and hassle-free procurement for horticulturists. He instructed officials to make all necessary arrangements before procurement began for the next season, and to notify procurement centres well in advance for the convenience of apple growers so as to maximise benefits for them.

He said the HPMC had procured 98,540 MT apple in 2025 under the MIS.