Himachal apples facing competition from China, New Zealand: CM Virbhadra Singh

SHIMLA: The Himachal apple is facing stiff competition from the ones imported from China and New Zealand, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said on Monday.

"The state is already facing the brunt of imported apple from China, New Zealand and other countries," Singh said.

He was speaking at the launch of a project on ' sustainable development of apple' in Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh.

The project is being done under Corporate Social Responsibility work of CONCOR through The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) headed by R K Pachauri.

Stating the productivity of state's apple plantations have not reached the desired level, The Chief Minister said it was necessary to produce quality apple that meets international standards for survival of the apple industry.

"The area under apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh has increased from 3,025 hectares in 1960 to 1.04 lakh hectare in 2011-12, which constitutes more than 48 per cent of the total area under fruits in the state.

"The government is making all efforts to meet the global challenge and make the apple industry sustainable and competitive in the international trade regime," he said.

The CONCOR project includes strategies for improving the productivity and quality of apple orchards through water harvesting, mechanisation and agriculture education, besides training for farmers.

Singh said private enterpreneurs are being encouraged to set up procurement and pre cooling units to facilitate the orchardists in getting remunerative price for their produce at farm gate.