Himachal, Arunachal to share horticulture techniques

SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh Thursday decided to extend help to each other in promoting horticulture in their states, an official said here.

Horticulture Minister of Arunachal Pradesh H.N. Gandan met his Himachal counterpart Narinder Bragta here and they agreed to cooperate in the fields of horticulture, floriculture, bee keeping, mushroom cultivation, medicinal plants and advanced horticulture, a Himachal Pradesh government spokesperson told IANS.

Gandan expressed a desire to procure high-grade fruit plantation material, especially apple, from Himachal Pradesh, he said.

During the meeting, Bragta emphasised the need for a common platform of all the northeastern and western Himalayan states so that matters of mutual interest could be pursued vigorously with the central government.

Apple is the main fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh and is grown in nine out of its 12 districts. Apple accounts for about 40 percent of the total area under fruit crop cultivation.

Himachal Pradesh achieved a record apple production of 4.2 crore boxes of 20 kg each this year. Last year, the production was 1.4 crore boxes.