Dhumal lays foundation stone of marketing yard

SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Monday laid the foundation stone of the states biggest marketing yard in upper Shimla to help apple and other fruit growers sell their produce speedily.

It would be constructed within three years at a cost of Rs.100 crore at Parala in the heart of the apple belt near Theog in Shimla district, a government spokesperson said here.

The yard would also have cold storage facility.

A highway connecting the proposed marketing yard with neighbouring states would also be built with an outlay of Rs.100 crore, said the spokesperson.

Apple is the main fruit crop of the state and is grown in nine out of the 12 districts.

The state has made a record production of 4.5 crore boxes of 20 kg each this year. Last year, the production was 1.4 crore boxes.

Besides apple, other fruits like pear, peach, cherry, apricot, kiwi, strawberry, olive, almond and plum are the major commercial crops of the state.