A high-level meeting in Shimla has brought significant relief to apple growers in Himachal Pradesh, with the state government announcing simplified procedures for payments under a key support scheme.
Delegation Raises Payment Delays with Minister
On Thursday, a delegation from the Orchardists' Association, led by its president Harish Chauhan, met with Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi. The primary agenda was to address persistent issues faced by farmers regarding the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for the apple season. The growers highlighted critical concerns about delays in receiving payments and cumbersome documentation requirements that were slowing down the entire process.
Government's Revised Notification for Apple Season-2025
In response, Minister Negi provided immediate assurances and concrete policy changes. He stated that the matter would be examined thoroughly in consultation with departmental officers, factoring in ground realities. More importantly, he revealed that the state government has already issued a revised notification amending the guidelines for the Apple MIS Season-2025.
The most significant change involves a major reduction in paperwork for small and medium-scale orchardists. Under the new rules, the requirement for submitting revenue records (khata-khatouni) will now apply only to those orchardists who have fruit receipts for more than 100 bags of apples. For all other growers, the existing procedures will continue without this additional documentation hurdle.
Aim: Simpler, Transparent, and Time-Bound Process
Minister Jagat Singh Negi explained that this decisive step was taken specifically to facilitate the orchardist community. The core objective is to reduce unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, ensuring a simpler, more transparent, and time-bound payment process under the MIS. This intervention is expected to directly benefit a large number of apple growers, especially those with smaller harvests, by accelerating their access to crucial funds.
The minister's engagement and the prompt amendment of guidelines signal the government's responsiveness to the practical challenges faced by the agricultural sector. This move is likely to streamline operations for the upcoming season and improve cash flow for countless apple farming families in the hill state.
