While climate change and global warming is posing threat to Rs 3,500 crore apple economy of Himachal Pradesh, state government has launched Rs 1,115 crore horticulture development project funded by the World Bank. This project spread over a period of seven years would focus on providing new technologies to the horticulturists for increasing their crop productivity and capacities. Besides, protecting fruit crops, especially, apple from hailstorm, the state government has enhanced the subsidy on anti-hail nets to 80%.
Apple is the mainstay of 1.70 lakh families across the seven districts of the state and constitutes 49% of the total area under fruit crops and about 85% of the total fruit production. Apple is largely produced in the districts of Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, Mandi, Chamba and Sirmaur. Now, even in the tribal Lahaul Spiti district, people are taking to apple plantation at large scale.
A senior official from horticulture department said that in order to safeguard the interests of the apple cultivators during adverse climatic conditions, the state government has introduced several schemes for their welfare. He said weather based Crop Insurance Scheme has been launched in the state for protecting the crops from natural vagaries.
Officials said that coverage under the scheme has been extended during the consecutive years keeping in view the popularity of this scheme.
In addition to this, 17 blocks have been covered under add-on cover scheme to protect the apple fruit crop. The apple cultivators have insured their 61, 69,865 apple trees for which the state government has borne 25 percent premium subsidy of Rs 9.22 crore.
During the Rabi season 2014-15, as many as 97,246 farmers have been covered under the weather based Crop Insurance Scheme for apple, out of which, it benefitted more than 92,000 farmers with a claim of Rs 34.50 crore
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
