Apple harvest season to begin in two weeks, orchardists struggle to arrange labourers
SHIMLA: Two weeks away from the apple harvesting season, orchardists in Himachal Pradesh are struggling to arrange labour, which may render a blow to the Rs 4,500-crore apple economy of the hill state. Apple growing regions of state rely on farm labourers from Nepal, most of whom returned to their native places in winter and are now stranded there due to the lockdown imposed in the landlocked country.
Nepalese labourers, known to be sturdy, have carried out fruit harvesting in the state for decades, so much so that they have been called the backbone of the apple economy. Ordinarily, Nepalese laborerers start returning to the orchards in March-april.
‘APPLES MAY ROT ON TREES’
Nawar Valley Apple Society president Mahijit Rathore said, “The Nepalese labourers are keen to return but they are unable to return due to travel restrictions imposed in wake of the coronavirus crisis. This is a difficult time for apple growers. If the labourers don’t arrive in time, the apples will simply rot on trees.”
Apple growers in Himachal are already expecting a lean crop, since unfavourable weather had impacted the blooming in March and April. Later, in May, hail storms pounded the apple orchards in many regions of Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts.
Worried about upcoming apple season the Federation Of Apple Growers (FOAG), a conglomerate of 11 different fruit growers’ associations, has asked the government to arrange labourers ahead the apple season.
“The government has spoken about the issue many times but nothing can be seen on the ground so far,” said FOAG spokesperson Rajesh Dhanta, adding that so far the government had done nothing to redress problem.
‘SEEK HELP FROM BIHAR, UP’
“The government should approach the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as districts bordering Nepal like Betia in Bihar, Moradabad in UP have ample labourers and they are as hardy as Nepalese labourers,” said Progressive Apple Growers Association (PGA) president Lokinder Singh Bisht.
Apples are one of the most important fruit crops of the state, it comprises 79% of the total fruit economy and are grown in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Sirmaur, Kinnaur and Chamba districts.