Shimla: Apple farmers have sought a probe into the alleged nexus between a South Indian NGO and those involved in the apple storage business. They have urged the state and Central governments to investigate the conspiracy hatched to cause a loss of Rs 4,000 crore to the state during the peak apple season.
The farmers suffered huge losses as the price dropped to Rs 700 per carton.
“It is an economic offence committed by the NGO with the help of certain businessmen,” said Laxman Thakur, chairman, Ecohorts, Nandpur, Jubbal valley, a major apple producing area.
“The prices dropped from Rs 1,800 per carton to Rs 1,100 or less. There were no buyers as the NGO spread rumours that the state’’s apple contained carbamide residues. The carbamide is used to ripen mango and banana, and not apple,” he asserted.
This raised a hue and cry at a time when importers were bringing wax coated foreign apple from the USA which crossed 5.5m cartons this year, a record quantity to date. The import took place in July-August when the apple season in the state had started, the farmers pointed out.
“The rumour aimed at destroying the apple industry. The state and both Central governments needto answer the questions put up by farmers,” Thakur said.
The per capita consumption of chemicals in the state is less than Europe and the USA. “The farmers in the state use herbicides in place of pesticides and the state’’s apple is safe,” he said.
“Apple does not need carbamide for ripening as it is a climatic fruit,” said Dr Vijay Thakur, Vice-Chancellor, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.
“The market forces operate at will as there is no mechanism to check manipulation and import of foreign apple is allowed under free trade agreement,” he said.
As far as the wax coated foreign apple is concerned, the layer protects the fruit from ripening, Thakur said. “We had submitted a report to treat the apple but the Central Government rejected it,” he said.
The farmers suffered huge losses as the price dropped to Rs 700 per carton.
“It is an economic offence committed by the NGO with the help of certain businessmen,” said Laxman Thakur, chairman, Ecohorts, Nandpur, Jubbal valley, a major apple producing area.
“The prices dropped from Rs 1,800 per carton to Rs 1,100 or less. There were no buyers as the NGO spread rumours that the state’’s apple contained carbamide residues. The carbamide is used to ripen mango and banana, and not apple,” he asserted.
This raised a hue and cry at a time when importers were bringing wax coated foreign apple from the USA which crossed 5.5m cartons this year, a record quantity to date. The import took place in July-August when the apple season in the state had started, the farmers pointed out.
“The rumour aimed at destroying the apple industry. The state and both Central governments needto answer the questions put up by farmers,” Thakur said.
The per capita consumption of chemicals in the state is less than Europe and the USA. “The farmers in the state use herbicides in place of pesticides and the state’’s apple is safe,” he said.
“Apple does not need carbamide for ripening as it is a climatic fruit,” said Dr Vijay Thakur, Vice-Chancellor, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.
“The market forces operate at will as there is no mechanism to check manipulation and import of foreign apple is allowed under free trade agreement,” he said.
As far as the wax coated foreign apple is concerned, the layer protects the fruit from ripening, Thakur said. “We had submitted a report to treat the apple but the Central Government rejected it,” he said.
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