Himachal Pradesh: Apple growers to seek subsidy

SHIMLA: The apple growers of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand will stage a two-day sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi from March 6 against fruit import and for the subsidy on fertilisers, insecticides, and fungicides.
United under the banner of the Apple Growers' Association, they will hold a workshop on these issues in Jammu and Kashmir during June next year.The association planned it out in Shimla on Monday in the presence of former Kerala legislator and All-India Kisan Sabha national finance secretary P Krishnaprasad, former Kashmir legislator Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, Theog legislator Rakesh Singha, and Himachal Pradesh Sanyukt Kisan Manch convener Harish Chauhan. It plans a block-level protest on January 10 in the state. P Krishnaprasad said: "The apple growers aren't the only farmers being exploited. They make Rs 24 on each kilogram of apple, while it sells for Rs 60 to 300 a kg." tnn