Rs 45 cr released to clear Market Intervention Scheme apple procurement dues: Himachal CM
Shimla, July 17
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday said that the state government has cleared payments through Direct Benefit Transfer to apple growers for produce procured under the Market Intervention Scheme during the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
While chairing a meeting of the Horticulture department in Shimla, the CM said that payments had already been made to growers who supplied up to 30 bags of apples under the MIS, and the process of releasing payments to growers who supplied 100 bags or more was now underway. He informed that the state government has released Rs 45 crore to clear the pending liabilities.
Reviewing the preparations for apple procurement under the MIS during the current season, the Chief Minister launched the Horticulture Market Intervention Scheme website and mobile application, according to an official release.
The release said that the digital platform would facilitate end-to-end recording of the procurement process, from apple purchase to processing, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency. Apple growers would be required to register on the portal by providing details such as Aadhaar number, land records and bank account information.
The apple growers would also be able to book time slots for selling their produce, helping reduce waiting time and improving convenience. The growers will receive SMS notifications on their mobile phones regarding procurement and payment status, ensuring complete transparency.
The Chief Minister directed that dedicated staff should be deployed at collection centres during the procurement season to assist growers. He said that employees from other departments could also be assigned, if required, and instructed officials to complete all necessary preparations to ensure that orchardists do not face any inconvenience during the procurement season, the release said.
Sukhu said that the present state government was committed to safeguarding the interests of the farming community and had initiated various schemes for their upliftment. He said that the universal carton system had been introduced for packaging the apple produce so that growers could be saved from the exploitation of middlemen.
Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HIMFED) Maheshwar Singh Chauhan, Secretary of Horticulture C Paulrasu, Director of Digital Technology and Governance Dr Nipun Jindal, Managing Director of HPMC DC Rana, Director of Horticulture Satish Kumar, and other senior officers of the department were also present on the occasion.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's good that the CM is addressing the pending payments, but why did it take so long? Farmers have been protesting for months. Also, the universal carton system sounds like an extra cost for growers. Hope it truly benefits them and not just the government's pet projects.
Digital platform and SMS notifications are great steps towards transparency. My uncle is a small apple grower in Shimla and he always struggles with paperwork. This website might actually make things easier for him. Kudos to the government for thinking of the small farmers! 🌟
Releasing 45 crore is a significant amount, but I'm skeptical about the implementation. The Aadhaar and land record integration might be a hassle for elderly farmers who aren't tech-savvy. They should have offline options too. Let's see how smoothly this works on the ground.
As an apple lover, I'm glad to see the state prioritizing the horticulture sector. The universal carton system might standardize quality and reduce wastage. It's a practical approach, though I wonder if the middlemen will find new ways to exploit the system. Hope it works out for everyone.
Bhai, this is just political drama before elections. They owe farmers crores for years and now suddenly they're releasing payments? The website is just a gimmick. Real change would be if they actually stop the exploitation of orchardists by these middlemen. Actions speak louder than words. 😤
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