Not to be published/broadcast  Before 23rd Nov, 2009   

Nature has bestowed Himachal Pradesh with such suitable agro-climatic conditions that are most conducive for fruit production. Horticulture activities are playing dominant role in the transformation of rural economy by contributing significantly in the State Gross Domestic Product. The state government has taken special steps in order to boost fruit production.

State recorded 6.28 lakh metric tonne fruit production in the year 2008-09. The present State Government is taking effective measures to strengthen economic base of the fruit growers. From this year on pilot basis crop insurance scheme for Apple and Mango has been started to provide the horticulturists the much needed support in case of crop failure.

This Weather based Crop Insurance Scheme has been introduced on pilot basis  in Theog, Jubbal, Narkanda, Rohru and Chirgaon blocks of Shimla district and Ani block of Kullu district for Apple crop and in Fatehpur, Nurpur, Indora and Nagrota Surian blocks of Kangra district for Mango crop.

The Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. will be the implementation agency of this scheme as decided by the Government. 50 percent of the total premium would be borne by the insured cultivator and rest of the 50 percent by the Central and State governments in equal proportion. Chilling requirement, temperature fluctuations, deficit or excess rainfall are some of the weather perils which this scheme covers for Apple crop and Frost, Temperature fluctuations, rainfall and wind speed for Mango crop.

All the cultivators growing Apple and Mango in the areas being covered under this scheme are eligible for insurance. This scheme is compulsory for all those cultivators who have a sanctioned credit limit from a financial institution as on 5th December, 2009 for Apple and Mango crops and for those cultivators who do not have any sanctioned credit limit  from a financial institution the scheme is voluntary. Under the scheme the insurance cover to loanee as well non-loanee horticulturists would be through the existing network of financial institutions at the grass root level. The state level Bankers Committee, the lead bank managers, the co-operative banks and Agriculture Insurance Company of India have been entrusted the responsibility of implementation of this scheme.

To ensure remunerative prices for fruit growers, state government is implementing Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Apple, Mango and Citrus Fruits. This year support price of Rs.5.25 per kg has been given for Apple, Rs.5.35 per kg for Kinno, Orange and Malta of grade B and Rs.4.75 per kg for grade C and Rs.4.58 and Rs.5.25 per kg for stone and grafted Mango respectively. This year the Apple has been procured at a rate of Rs.5.25 per kg and 913 Metric Tonne Apple was purchased through 253 collection centres.

While providing Insurance cover to fruit growers, the state government is also providing them insecticides and pesticides on subsidized rates. In the year 2008-09, Rs.5 crore was spent on providing 421.43 Metric Tonne pesticides to the cultivators.

To acquaint the horticulturists with latest technology, training is being imparted to the fruit growers. This year 1, 06,713 fruit growers have been imparted training.