Himachal govt announces MIS for apple procurement

The Himachal government has approved implementation of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of apple. The scheme will be implemented from July 20 to October 31 this year. The MIS will be undertaken for procurement of 2,29,136 metric tonnes apple, for which price has been set at Rs 7.50 per kg, the handling charges will be Rs 2.75 per kg and assumed sale realisation will be Rs 3.50 per kg.

About MIS scheme:
Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is a price support mechanism implemented on the request of State Governments for procurement of perishable and horticultural commodities in the event of a fall in market prices. The Scheme is implemented when there is at least 10% increase in production or 10% decrease in the ruling rates over the previous normal year. Market Intervention Scheme works in a similar fashion to Minimum Support Price based procurement mechanism for food grains, but is an adhoc mechanism.

Highlights:

• Under the scheme, 279 procurement centres will be opened as per demand of the fruit growers, the fruits will be procured in 35 kilo gunny bags with 2.5 per cent more fruits in view of evapotranspiration and respiration losses.
• Apple having diameter above 51 mm will be accepted only under the scheme, fruit having punctured skin or bird eaten or damaged would not be accepted. However, fruits having slight hail damage, slight bruising, russeting and misshapen fruit will be accepted

By: Dr. Vivek Rana