Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi on Monday appreciated the important role of the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) in strengthening the apple economy of the State. On the occasion of golden jubilee of HPMC, he highlighted its pivotal contribution to horticulture sector since its establishment on June 10, 1974.
He said the efforts of the Corporation in enhancing the production, marketing and processing of horticultural produce have significantly benefited apple growers and the horticulture industry in the State. He said that HPMC was established to safeguard the interests of fruit growers. Apart from this, the Corporation was working to provide marketing, fruit processing and post-harvest facilities to the horticulturists of the State. He said that over the past 50 years, it has significantly contributed to the development of apple producers and has been a leader in fruit processing and post-harvest technology in India for five decades.
The Horticulture Minister said that HPMC established country’s first apple juice concentrate plant in Parwanoo in 1980. During the 1970s and 1980s the Corporation constructed cold storages in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and four locations within Himachal Pradesh. Additionally, HPMC has also pioneered the production and marketing of bottled juice in India.
Jagat Singh Negi said that every year, HPMC buys C-grade apples from about 30,000 apple growers under the Market Intervention Scheme at prices fixed by the government. These apples are processed into apple juice concentrate at HPMC’s plants in Parwanoo, Parala (Shimla) and Jarol (Sundernagar). The corporation also produces tetra pack juice, jam, squash, apple cider vinegar and pickles.
Horticulture Minister further said that HPMC offers 10 grading packing houses and five CA stores with world-class post-harvest technology at reasonable rates to apple growers. He urged HPMC to continue providing C-grade apples to growers at fair prices.
HPMC Managing Director, Sudesh Mokhta and other officers were also present on the occasion.
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