Now, apples grown in lower hills

Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR, July 4

For the first time, a local farmer and former MLA Captain Gian Chand Minhas has grown apples in the lower hills of the state between 3,000 feet and 4,000 feet.

Earlier, apples were grown only in the upper areas of Kullu, Shimla and Kinnaur districts.

Minhas said the cultivation of apples in the lower hills, particularly Kangra and Mandi districts, would boost the economy as it would be a major cash crop. He asked farmers to switch over to the cultivation of apples without any delay .

He said he had planted 500 plants of apple in his orchard at Kandwari and these plants bore ideal-sized fruits this year. The experiments had proved a success.

He said there were many varieties of apples, particularly spur apple, imported from the USA, found most suitable in lower hills.

Experts working in this field for the past three years have recommended this variety for commercial cultivation.