Around 1.4 per cent of apple orchards in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh will be brought under a government-backed scheme to raise productivity, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reports.
Himachal Pradesh, India’s leading apple-growing state, contributes some INR32bn (US$533bn) to GDP each year, a National Agriculture Development Scheme spokesperson is reported as saying.
The website said the state government would simplify an ‘Apple Rejuvination Project’, which covers 1,500ha. Orchards under the scheme will have access to pollinators and micro-irrigation facilities, PTI said.
In addition, the state government has increased subsidies for anti-hail nets from 50 per cent to 80 per cent, the report said.
The move follows the recent election of India’s new prime minister Narendra Modi,leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and advocate of the domestic apple industry.
According to freshfruitportal.com, in pre-election speeches Modi promised to work toward banning apple imports so homegrown varieties can flourish, while investing in key infrastructure such as packing facilities and transportation.
Anil Bisht of Neelkanth Apple Orchards in Himachal Pradesh told freshfruitportal he has high hopes for the Modi government and the strengthening of the apple industry.
“The current scenario in Himachal is that the production of apples is increasing but the average output is lagging behind other countries,” he told the website.
