Himachal's Apple Revolution: Boosting Growers with Direct Benefit Transfers

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu pushes for direct benefit transfers for apple growers under the Market Intervention Scheme, aiming to improve their economic conditions and ensure transparency in the procurement process.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed officials to explore the possibility of direct benefit transfer under the procurement made through the market intervention scheme.

According to a statement issued here on Tuesday, presiding over a meeting of the Horticulture Department, Sukhu said this would replace the existing payment system where benefits are transferred through non-cash payments to the horticulturalists.

He asked the officers to ensure timely disbursal of the amount through DBT and said the step would strengthen the small and marginalised apple growers and improve their economic conditions.

The chief minister instructed the department to assess the estimate of apple crop production for the ongoing season and initiate preparations to facilitate the horticulturists.

The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is a price-support program that protects orchardists from distress sales during bumper harvests when market prices fall sharply. The scheme is jointly funded by the Centre and State Governments on a 50:50 loss-sharing basis.

The department said that this year, nearly 132 collection centres will be established to procure apples through MIS.

Directing the department to make hassle-free arrangements and an adequate number of collection centres for horticulturists to procure culled apples, Sukhu emphasised the need for efficient management of the produce and directed marketing of apple juice concentrate and other products of the Horticultural Produce Marketing Committee, making it profitable for the institution.

Sukhu also directed an increase in the number of auction centres for better sales of produce.

The chief minister directed the digitisation of the entire procurement process to ensure greater transparency in the system. He said that the state government was committed to safeguarding the interests of the apple growers and had introduced various initiatives during the last three and a half years to ensure the welfare of the farming community.