Prices of Himachal apples have dropped severely, and growers are asking for government support. Growing producers hoped for better returns after a lean crop in 2020, but claim commission agents manipulate prices while APMC and government stand by.
Farm apple prices in Himachal Pradesh are at a 10-year low, frustrating apple growers. Growers have now requested the central government to investigate and support the farmers with appropriate central policies. A number of agricultural owners in Himachal Prasdesh have urged the central government to implement the Kashmir state formula so that these drastic price declines can be dealt with.
Depending on quality, New Delhi buys apples from Kashmiri farmers at Rs 60, Rs 44, and Rs 24 per kg via the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED). It is hoped that the benefit will be extended to Himachal’s apple growers as well.
In recent weeks, apple boxes have been sold at a price of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200. In local markets, apple boxes weighing 22-35 kg are sold for Rs 500 to Rs 1,200, but consumers in big cities pay more. As a result of poor road infrastructure and a lack of cold storage chains, growers are forced to sell apples at below-market prices to commission agents, who then sell them to large companies.
