Himachal’s Apple Growers: Cold Storage Crunch Threatens Harvest
Himachal Pradesh’s apple growers, the backbone of the state’s economy, are facing a major challenge this season. Many small-scale farmers are unable to utilise Cold Storage (CA) facilities due to high costs and the large storage capacity required.
This inability to store their produce efficiently is leading to significant post-harvest losses. The immediate need for cash, coupled with the difficulty of filling large CA chambers, leaves many growers with few viable options.
Collaboration among farmers to share storage space also proves difficult, exacerbating the problem. The lack of access to appropriate storage infrastructure directly impacts their income and livelihoods.
The state government could play a crucial role in mitigating this crisis. Promoting the Warehouse Receipt System and encouraging the development of smaller, locally-run CA stores could provide much-needed relief.
This issue highlights the urgent need for targeted government intervention to support small-scale farmers. Failure to address this will not only impact the livelihoods of thousands but also potentially threaten the state’s apple production in the long run. The upcoming apple season hinges on finding a solution.
