Six apple processing plants to be set up this year:HP Minister

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh government will set up six apple processing plants in the state this year to ensure remunerative returns to apple growers, state Horticulture Minister, Vidya Stokes said today.

These plants to be set up at Rampur, Rohroo and Chopal in Shimla district, outer Siraj and Patli Kuhl in Kullu district and Churah in Chamba district will have capacity to process 20,000 metric tonnes of apple annually, she said.

Addressing a public meeting at Virgarh known as 'apple bowl', she said under size apples which did not fetch good returns in the market will be processed on the spot at these places and later transported to processing unit at Parwanoo and sold in the market as value added product.

The minister laid the foundation stone of community hall at Mangshu in Kotgarh and new building of science Block and PHC at Virgarh to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.45 crore.