Shimla, Sept. 21 -- Congress MLA from Theog Kuldeep Singh Rathore has urged the Himachal Pradesh government to increase the support price for apples under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) from the existing Rs 12 per kg to at least Rs 20 per kg, citing rising input costs and crop losses faced by growers.

Rathore was addressing reporters on Monday in Shimla, He said apple growers were struggling with increasing expenditure on labour, fertilisers, manure, fungicides and pesticides, while adverse weather conditions had also affected the crop.

"The MIS price for apples should be increased from Rs 12 to at least Rs 20 per kg. The cost of production has increased substantially, and the existing rate is not sufficient to provide relief to a...