Inspection of apple market Solan and HPMC plant Parwanoo
Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the state government is making efforts to further develop the horticulture sector and make it the main pillar of employment generation and economic stability. Jagat Singh Negi was inspecting the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Product Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) plant at Parwanoo in Solan today.
Jagat Singh Negi said that Kisan Udyam Innovation Centres are being set up by the state government. This centre will prove to be helpful in providing technology to the trade of horticultural products and the gardening sector. He said that digital agritech services are being created to make the horticulture sector stronger. An amount of Rs 05 crore is being spent on this. Under this, the use of technology and digital tools will be promoted to promote horticultural practices, improve productivity, digital platform for marketing and increase agricultural income.
He said that under the HP Shiva project in the state, Rs 100 crore is being spent in the year 2025-26 so that the economy of the gardeners can be strengthened by developing new varieties of fruits.
The Horticulture Minister said that to promote tropical horticulture in the state, tropical fruits are being brought under high density plantation. Under this, 48 irrigation schemes are being implemented, which will benefit about 05 thousand farmer families. Rs 200 crore is being spent on this work.
On this occasion, Jagat Singh Negi inspected the machinery installed in the processing plant of HPMC, cold storage centre, storage yard etc. and issued appropriate instructions to the officers. He expressed satisfaction that high quality is being given attention in the production of fruit juice, sweets, jam, pickles and fruit wine etc. in the HPMC plant.
Earlier, the Horticulture Minister also made a surprise inspection of the apple market in Solan. He talked to apple sellers and commission agents and listened to their problems.
He said that the state government has improved the arrangements for the apple season. The government has arranged for universal cartons for the convenience of the gardeners, transport facilities have been enhanced to deliver apples to the market on time and better arrangements have been made for the traders in Solan and Parwanoo apple markets. He said that special attention is also being paid to traffic management.
