India: Himachal apples get technical

Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) has installed imported computerized apple packing and grading lines at Gumma (Kotkhai) district Shimla with attached Controlled Atmosphere Store. The facilities will be made functional from this season to the region's growers.

Madan Chauhan, MD, HPMC said that Narinder Bragta, horticulture minister would inaugurate the facility on August 8 and make these facilities available to farmers.

The apple packing line was from GREEFA of Holland and cost Rs 163.12 lakh. It has the packing capacity of 4 lakh apple boxes per season.

"This machine has facilities for size, colour, weight, grading and waxing as per International standards. It has the storage capacity of about 35,000 apple boxes. Along with it is a refrigerated van facility costing Rs 503 lakh," said Mr Chauhan.

He added that the facilities were being made available to farmers in a bid to standardise the apple industry in the region, to make international market entry more easy to achieve.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

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