Politics Intensifies As Apple Prices Crash In Himachal Pradesh - All You Need To Know

There is a decline in apple prices this year in Himachal Pradesh but it seems to be due to some special reason as well as Politics. Know Here what has been the reason behind the fall in apple prices.

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Shimla: The sudden fall in apple prices in Himachal Pradesh has led to a crisis in the country's apple industry. Two weeks ago apple was selling at above Rs 3,000. Now per box is being sold at Rs 1200 to 1800, whereas low-quality apples are selling at Rs 500 to Rs 800 per box.

Within the last 15 days, apple prices have fallen from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 per box. This year, about 4.5 crore box apples are estimated to be produced in the Himachal. Out of which, only about 3 crore box apples are yet to go to the mandis. In Himachal, politics is also heating up on apple prices. Amid opposition attacks, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also fueled the agitation in Shimla.

Reason Behind Fall In Apple Prices

Apple mandi vendors say that unseasonal rains and hailstorms have affected the quality of apples this time. Good varieties of apples are getting better prices. Another reason for the fall in apple prices is the low demand in the country's mandis. Because Corona has also affected apple economics. Demands of Apple is also low in hotels and educational institutions. This is also the reason for falling apple prices.

CM Jairam Thakur Also Expresses Concern

Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has asked gardeners to send fewer apple crops to mandis and markets. The chief minister has requested the gardeners to stop the apple crop for now and bring it to the market only when the rate increases.

Storage capacity holders will also be urged to buy apples at the right price so that there is no loss to gardeners. The chief minister said there is a demand to increase the MSP beyond the fixed one. Consideration is continuous on it but there is little possibility. This is because the economy of the state is not very good. 

Congress Slams Govt

Congress state president Kuldeep Singh Rathore said the chief minister calls himself a gardener, but he is not taking any steps on the crisis faced by the gardeners and horticulture minister Mahendra Singh is also silent while he should have interacted with the farmers' gardener at this time.

The Congress has also demanded the resignation of the horticulture minister and expressed surprise over the chief minister's statement on the falling prices and said that the Thakur is advising farmers not to break the crop which is not logical in any way. Rathore also said that the chief minister should take steps to provide relief to the gardeners instead of making such statements.

Farmer Leader Rakesh Tikait On Apple Crisis

Amidst this ongoing political blame game, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also reached Shimla and cited the government's anti-farmer policies as the reason for the falling apple prices.

Tikait said that in Delhi, the kisan movement has been going on for 9 months. "10 years ago, the bourgeois started occupying Himachal. Earlier, the vendors used to come here and gardeners used to get good prices. But since Adani came, prices have falled down, these big houses have reduced prices for 2 months and sell at higher prices in 10 months.

"The three agricultural black law is not good for the farmer gardeners. I to the farmers of Himachal to unite at a press conference in Shimla. When the young farmer will wake up, the government will wake up and the farmer will be benefited," Tikait added.

Adani Agri said that broke all old purchase records and bought bumpers
On the other hand, Manjit Shilu, terminal manager of Adani Agri Fresh, says that breaking all their old records, farmers have sold 5,000 tonnes of apples to Adani Agri Fresh in a single week. Adani Agri Fresh has purchased a bumper apple in Himachal Pradesh. This year's apple breaking season began in the August last week and expected to continue till the October last week. Adani Agri Fresh officials said that the enthusiasm and positivity of farmers shows that on the very first day of the start of purchase, farmers from Himachal Pradesh arrived at our three centres in Himachal Pradesh with 1000 tonnes of apples as compared to 300 tonnes last year.