The Himachal Pradesh government has sent a Rs 27-crore anti-hail gun project proposal to help save apple crops from hail storm damage in Delhi’s Azadpur market.
“To start with, the anti hail gun will be installed in some areas of Shimla district as a pilot project. Each anti-hail device will cover a one-km crow fly distance,” state Horticulture Minister Nerender Bragta said on Sunday.
“In case the anti-hail project succeeds, it will bring a revolution in the horticulture economy of the state,” he said.
A large chunk of the apple crop is damaged by hail every year owing to which farmers are able to get low returns for their produce.
“Countries like Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, South Africa and Mexico are using this device,” Bragta said.
