Citing high market price, Adani Group delays apple procurement

Shimla, August 30

The Adani Group has delayed the procurement of apple this year, citing “high market price” at the moment and the slightly delayed harvest season. “It’s not possible for us to start procurement at the current market prices. We will bleed losses if we start procurement at current prices,” said an Adani spokesperson, adding that the company suffered huge losses last year as it had relaxed its quality control for procuring the fruit.

“The apple we procured last year sustained damage in CA stores and the company suffered huge losses,” he said.

The Adani Group normally starts procuring apple any time after mid-August, but this time the procurement is unlikely to start before the second week of September. The Group has three Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores in Shimla district, having an overall capacity of around 25,000 MT. “The date and prices have not been decided yet. We will most probably start the procurement after the first week of September,” the spokesperson said.

Even as the Adani spokesperson claims the prevailing market rates are unfeasible for them to start procurement, the apple growers are claiming that the market rates have slipped a lot over the last few days. As per APMC Shimla and Kinnaur Secretary Pawan Saini, the average price per box for a good quality apple is around Rs 2000-2200 at the moment. “The price was between Rs 3,000 to 3,500 around 10 days back. The prices have gone down mainly due to increase in arrival,” said Saini.

Meanwhile, the apple growers feel the prices are unlikely to go down any further. “The apple from lower and middle belt is almost over, and only around 60 lakh boxes have been marketed so far. There’s not much crop at higher elevation as well. We are hopeful that all CA stores would start procuring the fruit at good prices shortly,” said Harish Chauhan, convenor of the Sanyukt Kisan Manch.

“And we will urge these companies to buy the fruit in single lot, instead of categorising apple on size and colour and fixing different prices,” said Chauhan.

Likely in second week of Sept

• Apple they procured last year suffered damage in CA stores and the company suffered huge losses, says Adani spokesperson
• The Adani Group normally starts procuring apple any time after mid-August, but this time the procurement is unlikely to start before the second week of September.
• The Group has three Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores in Shimla district, having an overall capacity of around 25,000 MT. “The date and prices have not been decided yet. We will most probably start the procurement after the first week of September,” he said.