Apple Price Hiked to ₹12/kg Amid Stir — Himachal Cabinet Tries to Calm Angry Orchardists?
Shimla, July 29:
Under pressure from agitated apple growers, the Himachal Cabinet on Tuesday hiked the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) procurement rate for apples to ₹12 per kg for the 2025 season.
The announcement comes in the backdrop of growing unrest in apple belts like Theog, Kotkhai, and Rohru, Chopal where orchardists have been demanding a minimum of ₹18–20 per kg, citing skyrocketing costs of labour, transport, packaging, and sprays.
“₹12/kg is like alms, not support. The government is trying to pacify us with old tricks while input costs have nearly doubled,” said Suresh Chauhan, a farmer.
"We gave demanding MSP for apple and other fruits on the patterns of MSP for food grains". But government is not talking about it, said Seb Utpadak Sangh leaders
Along with apples, the Cabinet approved procurement of B and C-grade kinnow, malta, and mangoes at ₹12/kg and galgal at ₹10/kg.
Disaster Prep: Big Words, Ground Reality Grim
In another major decision, the Cabinet cleared the Disaster Sub-Committee’s recommendations, including state-wide safety audits of buildings, mandatory earthquake-proof construction, and integration of all emergency forces under HPSDMA’s Disaster Cell.
Sounds good on paper. But locals in landslide-prone areas are skeptical.
“Audits are welcome, but who will retrofit old houses in villages? We can’t even afford cement,” said a resident of Kullu.
Health Infra Boost: Critical Care on Paper
The Cabinet approved 18 district chemo day-care centres and new Critical Care Blocks in hospitals across Kullu, Manali, Solan, and Hamirpur. Equipment is coming, but doctors ask — where’s the manpower? Without oncologists and specialists, machines won’t save lives.
Milk Push and Transport Tokenism
A new RTO office at Dehra, milk processing plants at Rohru, Nahan, Nalagarh, and a mobile-accessible ERP system for the Milk Federation were also approved — seen as rural economy boosters.
But dairy farmers say payment delays and low procurement rates are the real pain points, not just infrastructure.
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