Voice of Himalayan People - HimbuMail

Ramp Up Testing for early detection of Omicron Variant: Centre tells States
Real Villains of Heat Waves Sweeping Himalayan States This Summer
Reduction of Import Duties on American Apples has Hit Himachal Apple Farmers, says Priyanka Gandhi in Shimla
Renowned Academician Prof Kamal Kishore Pant Takes Over as New Director of IIT Roorkee
Renowned Agricultural Scientist and Father of India's Green Revolution, Dr. MS Swaminathan, Passes Away at 98
Renowned AIIMS Professor Dr. Rama Jayasundar Delivers Eye-Opening Speech on Ayurveda and Holistic Healthcare at IIT Mandi
Researchers at IIT Mandi Achieve a Major Breakthrough in Diagnosis of Diabetes
Resident Doctors across India Put "NEET-PG-21 strike" on hold for a Week, Gives Centre December 16 as Deadline to Resolve Issue
Resolve Delays on Ease of Doing Business Front for Power Developers: Captains of Industry to HP Government
Rs 1337 Crore 'Mountain city' Project to 'Decongest' Shimla
Sanjay Kundu Out, Satvant Atwal in as DGP Himachal
SBI vs HP Govt and Others: HP High Court Directs District Magistrates to Ensure Compliance not Adjudicate in Loan Matters
Scale up Public and Private Investments in Climate Change to Fund Climate Action in India: Experts at IIT Madras Roundtable Meet
Scientists Mull Technologies for Hydropower as a Net Zero Carbon Energy System at IIT Roorkee Conference
Scientists on Himalaya Day Underscore the Need to Save Himalayan Biodiversity
Scientists Should Work for Improving Livelihoods of Local Communities in Himalayan Region: ICRFE Chief Arun Singh Rawat
Senior Citizens Rally Behind Jaya Bachhan Demand Pensionfor All Citizens above 60 Yrs
Sh. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan Inaugurates Legal Aid Defence Counsel System in Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh
Shahpur's Son Vice-Admiral Pathania Becomes Chief Hydrographer of India
Shimla 9th International Film Fest Sets to Start from Sept 22-24

Trending

Latest

The Sukhu Government’s Decision to Leasing out HPMC's Upgraded CA Stores to Private Players Raise Ire of Apple Farmers

HPMC Under Fire: Apple Growers Slam the Sukhu government mainky horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi for Leasing CA Stores to Private Players.. HOMC remains in the red over years and Negi has no plan to bring professionalism to the organization.

Shimla, April 2: Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh are up in arms against the Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi and the Himachal Pradesh Marketing Corporation (HPMC) for leasing out its Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores to private players.

The move, they say, not only betrays the interests of the farmers but also exposes the larger failure of HPMC in fulfilling its original mandate.

HPMC was initially established to break the monopoly of commission agents in Delhi and provide direct market access to apple growers.

It successfully transported and sold Himachal apples in various markets, liberating farmers from exploitative middlemen.

However, over the years, the organization has deteriorated into little more than a seller of pesticides, agricultural tools, and packaging materials, all while failing to establish itself as a serious market player.

HPMC’s Failure to Reform

Under the leadership of Minister Jagat Singh Negi, HPMC has failed to revamp itself.

Losses are mounting, corruption is high.

Despite receiving significant financial support from the World Bank-funded Apple Rejuvenation Project, the corporation has chosen to lease its upgraded cold storage facilities to private players instead of directly benefiting the growers.

Apple farmers argue that this will lead to monopolistic control by private entities, leaving them at the mercy of non-transparent pricing mechanisms.

"Instead of working for the welfare of growers, HPMC has washed its hands off the matter.

It has betrayed farmers by handing over crucial infrastructure to private businesses that will dictate storage rates and conditions," said Lokinder Bisht, President, PGA.

Corruption and Mismanagement

HPMC has also come under fire for procuring substandard tools and machines—including sprayers, cutters, fertilizers, spray oils, cartons, and trays—and selling them to farmers at inflated prices, chargeed growers.

Farmers allege rampant corruption in the procurement process, further burdening them financially.

Moreover, HPMC lacks professional market managers and is instead run by politicians and bureaucrats who have little to no expertise in horticultural trade and industry.

This has left the organization in perpetual financial distress, failing to provide apple growers with a reliable alternative to private traders.

Broken Promises and Absence from Market Yards

In 2023, the horticulture minister had announced with much fanfare that HPMC would enter Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) yards as a commission agent to provide growers better rates.

However, in 2024, HPMC was conspicuously absent from these yards, failing to deliver on its promise.

Now, by leasing out its CA stores to private players, it has completely stepped away from its role in ensuring fair prices for farmers.

The only silver lining, farmers say, is HPMC’s decision to procure apples under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) in crates instead of bags and the introduction of the universal carton last year.

However, these steps are far from enough to restore faith in the organization.

Demand for Accountability

Farmers’ associations, including the Progressive Growers Association (PGA), are now demanding accountability from the horticulture minister.

"The incompetence of the horticulture minister needs to be called out. If HPMC continues down this path, it will completely lose its relevance, said the farmers.

"We need an immediate rollback of this decision and a clear roadmap for HPMC to function as a pro-farmer organization," said Bisht.

The big question remains: Does the World Bank’s funding regulations even allow for the leasing out of these facilities to private players?

If not, this could be yet another scandal in the making.

With the apple season fast approaching, growers are now gearing up for protests, demanding that HPMC either fulfill its mandate or be restructured entirely.

The ball is now in the court of the government—will it act in the interest of the farmers or bow down to private interests?

Green Power

SJVN Adds 241.77 MW Solar Power to its Green Energy Kitty

SJVN Adds Green Energy to Its Kitty with 241.77 MW Solar Power in Bikaner

Shimla, April 2, 2025: In a major boost to India’s renewable energy sector, SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a subsidiary of SJVN, has successfully commissioned 241.77 MW capacity in Phase-I of the ambitious 1000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project.

The project, located in Bikaner district of Rajasthan, is part of the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme – Phase II, Tranche III, under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

It is being implemented under the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) mode, reinforcing the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative by promoting indigenous solar manufacturing.

SJVN plans to fully commission the project by September 30, 2025. Once operational at full capacity, the solar power generated will be supplied to Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, strengthening their green energy portfolio.

The 1000 MW project is a significant step toward India’s commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. It also aligns with SJVN’s long-term goal of becoming a 25,000 MW company by the same year.

SJVN’s latest achievement underscores its commitment to clean energy and sustainability, making substantial contributions to India’s renewable energy roadmap.

With each milestone, the company is cementing its role as a key player in the nation’s transition to a greener future.

Latest

Desraj Moves Supreme Court for Bail as HP Police SIT Gives Accused a Free Run

Shimla: In a stunning turn of events, Desraj, Director, electrical HPPCL and the prime accused in the mysterious death of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi, has moved the Supreme Court seeking bail through a Special Leave Petition.

News

Himachal-Uttarakhand Police Arrest 10 in Cow Slaughter Case

Joint Police Crackdown Exposes Illegal Cattle Slaughter Racket on Himachal-Uttarakhand Border..

Bar and Bench

Setback to the Government: HP High Court Strikes Down Extension of Animal Husbandry Director, Slams Government for Procedural Lapses

Shimla, April 1, 2025 – The Himachal Pradesh High Court has come down heavily on the state government for granting an "unwarranted" six-month extension to the Director of Animal Husbandry, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, after his superannuation, despite clear rules prohibiting such extensions except in rare cases.

Top News

Motive

The mainstream media houses dominated by the city- centric editors have been indifferent to the problems and issues faced by the Himalayan people down the centuries. HimbuMail is born to fill this gap and seeks to become their real voice.

News Coverage

City Explore

💰 Donate TO Us !

Why Donate ?

HimbuMail is new web newsepaper and is being run on no-profit basis by professionals, who need financial support for sustainable operation of the web news portal.

your support is Supreme!

Subscribe to HimbuMail

Himbumail
Install App on Your Device