Apple farmers to get 1.5 lakh imported plants

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 19

Apple farmers will get 1.5 lakh imported plants of the latest varieties under the Rs 1,143-crore horticulture development project. The state government is yet to declare the rates.

Last year, the rate was Rs 200 per plant. On the other hand, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, charged Rs 100 per plant.

Farmers demand that the government should not charge more than Rs 150 per plant. The condition that farmers, who do not fall in the cluster, will not get the plants should be abolished.

The farmers, who prefer to cultivate apple trees raised on traditional seedlings, got the plant of the latest varieties from the university last week. The university raised the plant of the latest varieties in its nurseries, said Parvinder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of the university.

“We ensure that every farmer gets the maximum number of plants of his choice depending upon its availability,” he added.

“Scientists have raised over 80,000 plants this year. The demand for jeromine is more and hence we rationed it ensuring that every farmer gets plants,” said Dr Chandel, head of department of nursery of the university.

On the other hand, the Horticulture Department had kept over 1. 5 lakh imported apple plants for quarantine under the supervision of the university last year. These were kept at Janjheli, Karsog, Sirmaur, Solan and Kullu, said the officials.

“We have about 1.50 lakh plants of apple imported from Europe, said Dr MM Sharma, Director, Horticulture. These plants are ready for distribution among farmers but the government has not finalised their rates,” he added.

Sharma said the department had constituted over 350 clusters of farmers in each area. “We will distribute plants to farmers who fall in the cluster,” he added.

Rates not yet declared

• The govt should not charge more than Rs 150 per plant
• The condition that the farmers, who do not fall in cluster, will not get the plants should be abolished
• Last year, the rate was Rs 200 per plant
• Nauni university had charged Rs 100 per plant
• The state government is yet to declare the rates