Shimla | TNR
Apple growers in Himachal are infuriated with the Adani group as well as the government over fixing low prices of the fruit. In this connection, the Kisan Sabha has called a convention in Shimla on August 30 to plan its strategy to protest against these low prices. The Kisan Sabha will also decide on its plan of action in different areas of upper Shimla, where it plans to “gherao” stores belonging to the Adani group in Bethal, Sainj and Rohru.
‘Govt’s wrong policies’
State president of the Kisan Sabha, Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, said that due to wrong policies adopted by the government, apple growers are not able to get even the basic cost price. He added that over and above this, the Adani group has been exploiting these apple growers by fixing arbitrary rates. Tanwar pointed out that they are being given rates that existed 10 years ago by the Adani group when currently the input cost had increased 100 times over.
Private groups accused of looting apple growers
General secretary of the Kisan Sabha, Dr. Omkar Shad said that private groups have been looting apple growers under the patronage of the government. He warned the government that the Kisan Sabha would stage a decisive battle against the unjustified practices of private groups and the government too if such looting was not stopped immediately. He added that the growers were forced to buy pesticides from the open market at 30 to 40 per cent more than the normal price since the government abolished subsidy. To add to their woes, heavy hailstorms during April and May had broken their backs and they are now trying hard to meet existing prices, he said.
Mandis offer better rates than Adani
President of Himachal Pradesh Aadhat Association, NS Choudhary said that mandis offered better prices than the Adanis. Premium quality apples, he said, fetched Rs 85 per kilo, while Adanis gave anything between Rs 52 and Rs 58, he said. He called upon the state government to pressurise the Adani group to offer better prices.
