Aiming to procure 1, 06,887 M.T. apples, the State Government has decided to implement Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) from 20 July to 31 October, 2015.
Horticulture department spokesman said the procurement price will be Rs. 6.50 per kg and handling charges has been fixed Rs. 2.20 per kg.
As per the direction, only apple having diameter above 51 mm will be procured/accepted under the scheme and fruit having punctured skin or bird eaten/damaged would not be accepted.
Fruit infested with insects/pests and fungal diseases including scab and ethral sprayed fruit, immature/over mature or over ripe fruit would also not be accepted. Similarly, severely bruised fruit would also not be accepted.
However, fruits having slight hail damage, slight bruising, russeting and misshapen fruit will be accepted.
To minimize the transportation and other expenses, the horticulture department has decided to make arrangements of sale of MIS apple near the procurement centres.
Under the scheme, 275 procurement centres will be opened as per demand of the fruit growers out of which 159 and 116 collection centres will be opened and operated by HPMC and HIMFED respectively. These centres will be manned by their own staff for which funds amounting to Rs. 256.38 lakh will be provided.
The fruits would be procured in 40 kg gunny bags with 2.5 percent more fruits in view of evapotranspiration and respiration losses.
