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States » NorthPosted at: Mar 18 2025 3:11PM


HP govt signs MoU with Griva to supply high-yielding apple cultivars :Minister

Shimla, Mar 18 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi informed the assembly on Tuesday that the state government has signed an MoU with Griva, a foreign company, to supply high-yielding apple cultivars.
These cultivars will be multiplied within the state and provided to apple growers at an affordable price.
Negi expressed concern over the reliance on imported plants, as local researchers have struggled to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties. Farmers are currently paying around Rs 750 per plant for foreign cultivars, with many opting for non-quarantine plants from unregistered nurseries, which have led to crop losses due to viral diseases.
The Minister acknowledged the limitations of local institutions like Dr. Y.S. Parmar University in meeting the immediate demands for advanced apple varieties. He stated that it would take at least a decade for indigenous cultivars to be developed in sufficient numbers, and in the meantime, the state has no choice but to import high-quality plants.
To address this, the state has partnered with Griva to import and multiply high-density apple plants, which will be provided to farmers at Rs 300 per plant.
Additionally, other advanced varieties will be available at a subsidized rate of Rs 400 per plant.
Negi also highlighted the state's efforts to combat the illegal supply of non-quarantine plants. In 2023-24, authorities confiscated containers of such plants and destroyed nearly 3 lakh non-quarantine plants. He noted that Nauni University specializes in quarantining imported plants but admitted that more work is needed to develop new varieties.
MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore raised concern about the financial burden on apple growers due to the high cost of imported plants and the risk of viral diseases. He emphasized the need for the state to develop cultivars locally to reduce reliance on foreign imports.
BJP Member Bilvir Verma also stressed the importance of quarantining imported plants for a year to ensure they are disease-free, noting that more investment and time are required to make indigenous varieties available on a large scale.
UNI ML CS
Tags: #HP govt signs MoU with Griva to supply high-yielding apple cultivars :Minister
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