Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation has installed imported computerized Apple Packing/Grading lines at Gumma (Kotkhai) District Shimla with attached Controlled Atmosphere Store and the facilities will be made functional from this apple season to the growers of the area according to Madan Chauhan, Managing Director, HPMC Ltd. Shimla.
He said that Narinder Bragta, Horticulture Minister would inaugurate the Apple Packing/Grading lines and Controlled Atmosphere Store on 8th August, 2012 at 10:00AM and make these facilities available to the farmers. He has requested all to attend the inauguration function.
He further said that Apple Packing line commissioned at Gumma was of GREEFA of Holland costing Rs. 163.12 lacs with packing capacity of 04.00 lacs apple boxes in apple season. He said that this machine was having the facility of size, colour, weight, grading and waxing as per the International standards. Besides this Controlled Atmosphere Store of 640 MTs with eight chambers having storage capacity of about 35,000 apple boxes along with Refrigerated Van facility costing Rs. 503.00 lacs would be dedicated to the farmers.
He said that high tech facilities were being made available to the farmers of the State for the first time with the objective to standardize their product on International Standard which would not only help them to compete with imported apple and getting better returns for the market but would help to export the apples. He said that this would revolutionize the Horticulture Sector in the State.
