Rohru: President, Progressive Growers Association (PGA) Lokinder Singh Bisht expressed his satisfaction with the budgetary measures aimed at bolstering the horticulture industry.

Bisht particularly welcomed the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Horticulture and the introduction of a nursery/budwood block for subtropical fruits, highlighting these as crucial steps forward.

Additionally, he commended the promotion of exotic fruits and berries, seeing it as a positive move for industry growth.

However, Bisht emphasized the need for strict enforcement of transport freight based on weight and advocated for a minimum price of Rs 22 per kilogram for culled fruit.

He stressed that this pricing strategy is essential to ensure the viability of B-grade apples, especially when packed in the newly introduced universal carton. Bisht reiterated the importance of selling unsold produce to government agencies like HPMC and Himfed to prevent losses for growers.

 Bisht sees these budgetary measures as promising for the horticulture sector and believes they will contribute significantly to the industry's progress and sustainability."