This decision taken by the state cabinet holds much significance because of the bumper apple crop that is expected this year . Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who presided over the cabinet meeting, himself briefed the mediapersons on the decisions.

Dhumal said the cabinet had taken into account all factors and in order to remove apprehensions of the apple growers about glut in the market due to "better crop" aspects this year, the government had not only decided to continue the support price but also increase it by 25 paisa per kg.

Arrangements to have apple cartons and trucks for the season were also being made on war footing. He told the apple growers that the government would do everything possible to ensure proper marketing of the crop.

Dhumal said the cabinet had decided to extend the scope of market intervention scheme to cover mango and all fruits for which the support price was being provided but got an automatic increase of 25 paise per kg on the pattern of support price for apple. The apple procurement would start in advance from July 20, 1998 against August 1.

The state government, he said, would spend about Rs 10 crore on the support price scheme and it would benefit atleast 3.75 lakh farmers. The cabinet also approved a plan about subsidy being provided on the cartons and decided the same will be extended to the flouriculture sector. They would get a subsidy of Rs 10 per carton for the flowers.

Dhumal said government had also set up a committee to rationalise market fee structure in the state with particulture reference to the fruits and vegetable crops.