Apple prices rise on entry of pvt players

The story of wheat shortage in the country owing to private procurement this year seems to have found a repetition in apple.

The entry of big corporate players in Himachal Pradesh coupled with low production has led to nearly 50 per cent rise in apple prices. The state is the largest apple growing state in the country.

In Himachal, the production of apple this year is estimated to come down to 2,60,000 tonne as against 5,30,000 tonne last year, down 50 per cent and more. According to reports, Adani, ITC and Reliance have together purchased about 50,000 tonne of apples from the state. This has also contributed to the price rise.

In Azadpur mandi, New Delhi's biggest fruit market, this year's arrival so far shows a fall of more than 55 per cent. The arrival of apple in the period April to August 2005 was about 1,61,752 tonne. However, only 68,800 tonne of apple arrived between April and August 15, this year.

Last year, August alone saw an arrival of about 1,28,372 tonne. However, till August 15 this year only 38,750 tonne apple had arrived at Azadpur.

The price of apple has also seen an increase of about 30-50 per cent compared with last year. The average price of apple on August 10 was in the range of Rs 8.75 -64 per kg as against Rs 6.25-39 per kg on the same date last year.

"Weather played a major role for the low production this year. Frequent hailstorms, frost and temperature variations have affected productivity," said Sanjay Chauhan, secretary of Himachal Kisan Sabha.