Kinnaur gears up for apple season

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Sharma chaired a key meeting in Kinnaur to oversee preparations for the upcoming apple season. He directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to prioritise the timely restoration of roads to ensure smooth transportation of apple produce to markets. He emphasised that all concerned departments must complete preparations promptly, enabling orchardists to reap the benefits of their hard work without delays.

To safeguard produce during transit, the DC urged farmers to insure their apple boxes. He stressed strict enforcement of government-mandated guidelines, including the use of universal cartons for packaging and the compulsory online registration of commission agents, graders, and packers involved in apple trade—measures aimed at preventing fraud and ensuring transparency.

The meeting also addressed critical logistical aspects, including national highway maintenance, establishing a police control room, GPS installation in transport vehicles, recovery machinery availability and finalisation of freight rates.

Deputy Director of Horticulture, Bhupender Negi, shared that around 35.18 lakh apple boxes are expected this season, requiring over 11,000 trucks. He confirmed that all arrangements are in place, with staff deployed across the district’s three blocks to manage box inventory and ensure seamless operations.