Peach valley of Asia faces marketing woes

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 30

Acclaimed as the peach valley of Asia for its luscious and juicy peaches, the fruits growers of Rajgarh belt of Sirmaur district were a worried lot as there were no migrant labourers to pluck and pack fruits.

Lacking experience to even market the crop, which was bought by contractors from Saharanpur every year, the growers of various stone fruits like plum, peach and apricot were left to fend for themselves.

Being a perishable commodity, the fruits are supposed to reach the markets a day after they are packed.

Vivek Sharma, who had a 29-bigha orchardist at Matnali village located on the Rajgarh-Giripul Road, said plum and apricot would be ready for harvest soon and absence of migrant labour has become a cause of major concern.

“Contractors who buy the fruit-laden orchards come from Saharanpur every year, and they bring along migrant labourers who pluck, pack and market these fruits on their own.”

Orchardists were also apprehensive that their produce would fetch less price in the market as has been the fate of the vegetable growers who had to sell cauliflower and pea at a throwaway price in the local markets.

With little experience to pack or market these fruits, the growers were at the mercy of the State Government who was yet to devise a strategy to help these growers.

Rupinder Singh, another grower from Daro Devriya village, while echoing similar sentiments said: “Our immediate worry is how to pluck and pack apricots which will mature in the next few days. Cartons were not available anywhere despite making inquires from Oachghat, Parwanoo and Kala Amb-based packaging firms and it appears growers will incur losses.”

He said the State Government should intervene and facilitate the growers by arranging cartons as well as marketing facilities.

Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur, Dr RK Pruthi, when quizzed said the administration was seized of the problem and the block-level officials of the Horticulture Department have been directed to train the local labourers as well as those engaged under the MNREGS on plucking and packaging of the stone fruits.

“Some packaging material has been arranged by the growers on their own and the officials have been directed to help the growers in meeting their shortage.

As much as 3,500 metric tonnes (MT)of plum is grown over an area of 1528.75 hectares while apricot accounts for 1200 MT annually over a 686.48-hectare area in Sirmaur district.

The Rajgarh area is acclaimed as the peach valley as 6,000 MT fruit is grown over 3026.29-hectare areas. About 10 per cent of the crop has already suffered damage in the lower Rajgarh belt.