Shimla, Feb. 18 -- In the last three years, 379 orchardists in Himachal were defrauded of Rs.8.05 crore by the commission agents and loaders who fled without making payment of their produce.

The information was shared by the agriculture minister Chander Kumar on Wednesday in the assembly during question hour. He was responding to a question from Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore.

Out of the Rs.8.05 crore, payment of Rs.1.93 crore was made to the orchardists, while Rs.6.12 crore is still pending, he further informed. Cases of such frauds have been filed with the agricultural produce marketing committee (APMC).

The highest number of complaints--191--have been received from Solan district with orchardists not receiving Rs.3.37 crore by tran...