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HP readies plant tackle monsoon failure

With a severe drought condition in Himachal Pradesh, the government said the state has suffered a loss of Rs 810 million from horticulture crops alone and a contingency plan has been formulated to provide relief to those affected.

Against a normal fruit production of 560,000 tones annually, total output during the current season is expected to be 387,000 tonnes in an area of 8,673 hectares in the state, State Agriculture Minister Narinder Bragta said in New Delhi.

During a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh, he said Himachal government has formulated a Rs 70 million contingency plan to provide relief and assistance to the orchard owners on account of drought.

He said the prevailing drought condition will adversely affect the horticulture plantation and there is likelihood of crop failure even during the next crop season.

Bragta also met Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit and asked for waiver of two per cent commission being charged from growers by Mandi Commission Agents.

The centre is likely to convene a high level meeting with the state government officials to formulate a comprehensive package to boost export of cash crops from Himachal Pradesh.

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