Shimla: Apple season has started in Himachal Pradesh. In such a situation, certainly, the government will also declare the support price of apples. However, it is difficult to say whether the support price will increase this time or not or by how much because last year the government increased it by one and a half rupees at once. Now the proposal has been sent to the Finance Department by the Horticulture Department, but the new support price is not written in it. The file is awaiting approval from the Finance Department, after which the matter will be brought to the cabinet meeting to be held on July 25.
Talking about last year’s figures, government agencies had purchased apples at Rs 12 per kg. This is the apple, which is of C or D grade. Because the middlemen in the market do not pay much for such apples and many do not even buy them, the government purchases them through government agencies to give relief to the gardeners. This apple was purchased by HPMC and Himfed, who had purchased apples worth around Rs 64 crore last year.
According to sources, this time the Horticulture Department has sent the file to the Finance Department to fix the support price of apples. It has a proposal that the support price is being given at the rate of Rs 12 per kg, which has to be maintained in the future as well. Now the support price will increase, and the cabinet will decide how much it will increase. This proposal will be discussed in the cabinet meeting, and the government will decide everything keeping in view its financial condition.