Govt to keep 20 per cent storage space in HPMC stores for apple growers

Twenty per cent space in the Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores, which the Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) will rent to private players shortly, will be kept for fruit growers. Initially, the HPMC had decided to rent the entire space to private players.

“We have decided to keep 20 per cent capacity of CA stores for apple growers. Apple crop is likely to be better this year as compared to the past two years. So, we are expecting more demand for storage from the growers this season,” said Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi here.

The HPMC has decided to rent its seven CA stores and 10 grading and packing lines to private players due to the lack of demand from growers in the past few years. HPMC officials claim that only 20 per cent to 25 per cent capacity of their stores has been utilised over the past few years, resulting in below-optimal utilisation of the stores. In view of this lack of demand, the Board of Directors of the HPMC has decided to rent its assets to private players on a long-term basis to ensure their optimal utilisation and generate revenue for the corporation.

However, the decision has not gone down well with the fruit growers, who flagged concerns like monopoly of private players, possible hike in storage and grading and packing costs and other issues. However, the growers have welcomed the decision to reserve 20 per cent space in CA stores for them. “It’s a positive step that will ensure space for the growers in CA stores. If there’s good demand for storage this year, the HPMC should keep the option of increasing it further next year,” said Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association.

Harish Chauhan, president of the Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers Growers’ Association, said that the decision was in the interest of the fruit growers. “It’s a good decision but it will be better if the space for the growers is increased further. As growers, we do not want that government stores become commercially unviable but the interests of the growers should be protected while handing out these assets to private players,” he added.

Himachal Tribune