HP inks MoU with Italian company Griva to boost feather apple plants

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has left no stone unturned to accelerate the apple production in the state. In view of this, the Horticulture Department has inked an MoU with an Italy-based company named Griva for the production of 50,000 feather apple plants. As per the agreement, the Italian company will send apple plants to Himachal Pradesh, and then they will be planted at Bajoura farm nursery in Kullu district. Farmers are to receive saplings of these varieties at subsidized rates.

The department is taking numerous steps to increase apple production in the entire region, providing quality apple saplings to farmers. The plant will be grown within a couple of years in the nursery of Kullu, and then they will be distributed to farmers. If this plan becomes successful, then the department would think to expand the plan further for a high yield of apple production in the state.

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Farmers will get feather apple plants from the Horticulture Department of Himachal at Rs 450 to Rs 500 per plant, much cheaper compared to the Rs 700 to Rs 800 price in the open market.

Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi stated that farmers can start purchasing these plants from February next year. He assured that the department is committed to providing quality apple seedlings at lower prices to support apple growers in the state.

The production of apples has been badly hit due to climate change and inadequate markets for this perishable fruit, despite all the efforts from the state government. This initiative is expected to help in boosting production and increasing the income of the farmers.