Shimla, July 24 THE TRIBUNE. The apple season has taken off early due to good crop, but the prices are much lower as compared to last year. The season starts in the third week of July, but this year 12,19,883 standard boxes of apple have already been transported to various markets till July 23. Yesterday alone, 347 trucks carrying 1,56,358 boxes left the state and, in all, 2,714 trucks have been sent out. Last year, only 92,524 boxes had been exported by this time. The total production was only 2.06 crore boxes, whereas this year the output was estimated to be between 3.50 crore and 4 crore boxes. Last year, when the state had a lean crop, the initial consignments fetched as high as Rs 3,200 to Rs 3,500 per box in the Delhi market. However, this year the rates have been hovering between Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,500 per box. The rates in the Dhalli market, near here, were around Rs 1,800 per box. The main reason for low returns is that the production in the lower elevations is high but the quality of fruit is not good and it did not acquire the normal size and colour due to unfavourable weather conditions. The small and extra-small size fruit accounts for 20 per cent to 30 per cent but this year it is 50 per cent to 60 per cent and packing is being done in five and six layers in the 20-kg cartons. “The apple belt had heavy pre-monsoon showers, which caused much damage in Kinnaur, but it was followed by a month-long dry spell. While the rain in mid-June ensured that there was no premature dropping of fruit, the lack of rain subsequently affected the size of the fruit,” points out Rajesh Dhanta, spokesperson of the Himalayan Apple Growers Society. However, he expected the rates to remain stable, unlike last year when arhtias (commission agents) manipulated the market by offering exceptionally high prices initially and once bulk of the produce arrived, they suddenly dropped prices severely affecting returns to growers. This year, the lower areas were having an all-time high production, but the middle elevations, which accounted for over 60 per cent of the total output, were having a moderate to good crop. The chances of a glut in the market during the peak season were less, he explained. The higher elevations mostly got reasonable returns as the quality of the fruit was good and the crop was harvested late in the season. A grower of the Kotgarh region Ranjeet Mehta said now that monsoon had revived, the growers in the middle and higher areas would delay harvesting so that fruit acquired the right size and colour, the key to good returns. Not so sweet 12,19,883 boxes of apple already transported to various markets till July 23 The output is estimated to be between 3.50 crore and 4 crore boxes Rates hovering between Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,500 per box as compared to Rs 3,200 to Rs 3,500 in Delhi market Returns are low as quality is not good
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:25:59 +0000
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