World Bank-funded project helps improve productivity and quality of apple

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 24

The World Bank-funded Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (HP HDP) has done quite well in increasing productivity and enhancing the quality of apple as per the Final Impact Assessment report of the project. The report has rated the project ‘highly satisfactory’ in enhancing the productivity and quality of apple. As for increasing the market access to horticulturalists, another objective of the project, the report rates the project as ‘moderately satisfactory’.

As per the Final Impact Analysis survey, 25.8 per cent increase in productivity has been recorded in rejuvenated apple orchards. In the plantation done in the year 2017, 20 times increased productivity was recorded in 2023. From 2.7 ton per hectare, the productivity increased to nearly 40 ton per hectare.

As per the report, more than 34.2 lakh high quality planting material has been provided to the horticulturalists through the project. Apart from increase in productivity, the project has also resulted in betterment of the fruit quality. “Good quality planting material and technical training have achieved 30 per cent increase in production of Grade A apple, 16 per cent increase in Grade B apple. The production of Grade C apple has decreased by 46 per cent as compared to the pre-project times,” the report says.

According to the report, the project improved infrastructure to handle the Increased quantity of farm produce and its distribution to consumers, both domestically and internationally. “To facilitate market access, the project undertook modernisation of CA stores and upgradation of packing houses, establishment of wholesale market yards with e-trading, promotion of FPCs and establishment of agri enterprises,” the report says. Under Agro business promotion facility, 24 Integrated sorting and grading packing units, cold stores, and 19 fruit processing units have been promoted.