Shimla, 20 December
The controlled atmosphere storage (CA store) capacity of Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) has been doubled during the last two years by the present state government under the able leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. The total storage capacity in 7 CA stores in the state was 3380 MT before the year 2023, which has now been increased to 8260 MT as a result of the efforts of the government.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government is working with commitment to ensure the welfare of gardeners and farmers in the state and the increase in the capacity of CA stores is a direct proof of this. Thousands of families associated with the horticulture sector will benefit from this. Now gardeners will be assured of getting better prices for their produce during the off-season.
He said that HPMC is expanding the basic infrastructure with the aim of providing better prices to agricultural products. In this series, the capacity of Gumma CA Store has been increased from 640 MT to 2017 MT and the capacity of Jarol-Tikkar CA Store has now been increased from 640 MT to 2062 MT. Similarly, the capacity of Rohru CA store has been increased from 700 MT to 2031 MT. Apart from this, new CA stores with capacity of 250 MT at Reckong Peo and 500 MT at Chachyote have been established for the convenience of farmers.
To provide further support to the gardeners and farmers, the Government has also reduced the CA Store Booking Rates from Rs 2 per kg per month to Rs 1.60 per kg per month, thereby providing financial relief to the farmers and gardeners. The Chief Minister said that the present state government has taken several decisions during the last two years to empower the farmers. The state government has introduced universal carton and increased the minimum support price (MSP) of apple from Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg.
Under the Mandi Mediation Scheme, apples are being purchased at the rate of Rs 12 per kg. Additionally, the government has resumed subsidy on pesticides, which was discontinued by the previous BJP government. The government has also released pending payments of Rs 150 crore to apple growers under the Mandi Mediation Scheme.
