However, with the Kashmir agitation dying down, for the last one week prices have crashed by atleast Rs 200 per box as apple trucks from Kashmir have already reached major markets, including Chandigarh, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Nagpur and Kolkata. Yet, the Himachal growers are a contented lot at the end of the peak season.

Over 1.30 crore apple boxes from Himachal Pradesh have already been marketed and it will take another 10 to 15 days till the apple growers start counting their cash. Every day about 550 trucks are leaving Shimla in addition to an almost equal number from Kullu, Sirmaur, Mandi and Chamba taken together. State government estimates expect the total production to be between 1.12 crore and 1.15 crore boxes, atleast 28 lakh boxes less than 2006 — a bumper season. Last year, Himachal Pradesh produced 1.21 crore apple boxes.

Nonetheless, the market price remains higher than 2007, when the price had crashed to Rs 600 to Rs 700 per box during the corresponding month. The Royal Delicious apple variety from Himachal is selling at Rs 800 per box and the best ones can still fetch Rs 900 per box. The Red Richer, a recently imported American variety, is fetching Rs 725 per box, nearly Rs 50 to Rs 75 more than last year.

Himachal apple growers are an obviously satisfied lot. “The direct buying by the corporate sector and wholesale traders helped in stabilisation of the markets.That’s what the apple growers require for long-term returns,” says Lekh Raj Chauhan, president, Himachal Fruits and Vegetable Growers body.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Excessive rains this year coupled with a series of landslides have been a serious impediment in marketing their produce. Rohit Thakur, a former Congress MLA, holds the government responsible for not keeping the link roads open. “First, there was a shortage of trucks and then blockades. Suddenly, when the roads opened, the market got flooded with apple and the prices crashed,” he says.

Heavy rains also had other side-affects. This was the first time when apple scab —a disease caused by trapping of excessive water, which had taken a heavy toll on the apple crop in the early 80s — reappeared in some of the apple-growing areas. Fortunately, the Horticulture Department and the growers took precautionary steps to save the crop from being wiped out completely.

The growers also bore the brunt of higher input costs, with fungicide prices being 60 to 70 per cent higher and the the apple cartons and trays costing Rs 20 to 25 more than earlier seasons.

Meanwhile, Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta said, “Setting up fruit-processing units and cold storage facilities will be the government’s priority. The growers should get sale-points at the orchard gates,” said Bragta.